President Kikwete bids farewell to SADC during the 35th Summit of Heads of State

Hon. Mizengo Pinda delivering President Kikwete's Farewell Remarks during the 35th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Gaborone, Botswana.

A section of Heads of State listening to Hon. Mizengo Pinda, Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania delivering President Kikwete's remarks during the SADC Summit August 18, 2015. 

Hon. Mizengo Pinda signing articles of cooperation during the 35th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government. Prime Minister Pinda represented President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in the Summit, held in Gaborone Botswana. 

His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania today bided farewell to his fellow SADC Heads of States and Governments saying he is more than contempt with achievements of the region thus far.

In his farewell remarks, President Kikwete saluted the region for its work in the consolidation of peace, security and democracy within the member states as well as within the SADC Secretariat by appointing the first woman as Executive Secretary, Dr. Stergomena Tax. President Kikwete referred the appointment as historic, and a sign of positive progress in the SADC region.

President Kikwete’s remarks, which were delivered by Hon. Mizengo Pinda, Prime Minister of Tanzania, congratulated countries that went through elections recently in region saying that he will make sure that his country’s upcoming elections also add to the credence of success story of the SADC region.

About peace and security, President Kikwete praised the regional resolve and commitment to find lasting solution to the crisis in the Eastern DRC with collaboration with multilateral organs such as the United Nations and the African Union. Through these efforts the region was able to defeat the ex-M23 rebels in North Kivu.

“As I leave office, I urge Member State to continue their support in the implementation of this important policy. We are on the right track and facing the right direction. Now we need greater speed, we need to be more result oriented” concluded the statement in the regional strategic indicative plan for the organ (SIPO)

Other areas that President Kikwete spoke about in his statement were the regional indicative strategic development plan and COMESA-EAC-SADC free trade area insisting that these areas should continue to stand as constant items on SADC development agenda.

In addition to thanking the Heads of States for their cooperation, the statement, in a special way, thanked H.E. Robert Mugabe President of the republic of Zimbabwe and the Outgoing Chairperson of SADC for awarding the Late Brigadier Hashim Mbita with the Royal Order of Munhumutapa during the 34^th SADC Summit Meeting. The statement acknowledged with satisfaction the completion of the Hashim Mbita Project, which documented the history of the region liberation struggles against colonialism and apartheid.

The 35^th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government that was held in Gaborone, Botswana on 17-18, August 2015, also launched a book of collection of photographs and speeches made by Mwalimu Nyerere from 1959 – 1999 about the region. The book was compiled by the Southern Africa Research and Documentation Centre and published by Mkuki na Nyota Publishers of Tanzania.

In this year’s Summit under the theme of Accelerating Industrialization of SADC Economies through transformation of Natural Endowment and improved Human Capital, Tanzania’s delegation was led by Hon. Mizengo Pinda, Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania.