Office of the Prime Minister

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President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, and First Lady, Salma Kikwete, will arrive in Jamaica on Monday (November 23) for a busy 3-day state visit.

The Tanzanian First Family will be visiting Jamaica on their way to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, November 27-29.

The hectic programme is considered essential, as the Jamaican Government moves to establish closer links with key African states. Jamaica and Tanzania established diplomatic ties in 1971.The two countries have enjoyed good relations since, due largely to ties formed in the years following their Independence in the 1960s and their efforts to achieve common goals in international bodies, such as the Commonwealth and the Group of 77.

President Kikwete's visit follows one made earlier this year by Tanzania's Minister of Water and Irrigation, Mark Mwandosya, which led to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) in Jamaica proposing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Energy and Water Utilities Authority of Tanzania.

On his visit, the Tanzanian leader will be looking at tourism investment opportunities. He will meet with Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett. He will also visit St. Ann, home parish of National Hero, The Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, as well as Liberty Hall, former home of Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).

He will unveil the statue of Olympian, Herb McKenley, at the National Stadium on Tuesday, November 24.

President Kikwete will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding at Jamaica House, and pay courtesy calls on the Leader of the Opposition, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, and former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J Patterson.

The highlights of the visit will be an address to a joint sitting of the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, November 25, and a state dinner to be hosted by the Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, following his speech to Parliament, at which the President will be conferred with the Order of Excellence.

The Order of Excellence, created in 2003, is Jamaica's third highest honour and is reserved for foreign Heads of State or Government. A member of this order is styled 'the Most Honourable'.

Several other activities have been planned for the visiting Head before his departure to Trinidad on Thursday (November 26).

The United Republic of Tanzania was formed out of the union of two sovereign African states, namely Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Tanganyika became a sovereign state on December 9, 1961 and became a Republic the following year. Zanzibar became independent on December 10, 1963 and the People's Republic of Zanzibar was established after the revolution of January 12, 1964. The two sovereign republics formed the United Republic of Tanzania on April 26, 1964.

President Kikwete chaired The African Union (AU), the intergovernmental organisation consisting of 52 African states, up to February, 2009. The AU was established in 2002 as the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

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