A Moment in History for Tanzania!

The newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community, Dr. Stergomena L. Tax (left), awaits to be sworn in during the 33rd Heads of State and Government SADC Summit held in Lilongwe, Malawi from the17 - 18 of August, 2013. 

The newly appointed Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community, Dr. Stergomena L. Tax (center), gets ready to approach the stage to be sworn in. 

The new Executive Secretary of SADC gets sworn in by the Chief Justice of Malawi. 

The Supreme Court Judge Anastazia Msosa, first ever woman Chief Justice in the  the Republic of Malawicongratulates Dr. Stergomena L. Tax for her new prestigious position as the SADC's Executive Secretary. 

New Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Stergomena L. Tax affirms her signature after be sworn in by the Supreme Court Judge Anastazia Msosa, the first ever woman Chief Justice in the  the Republic of Malawi. 

There it is!  SADC new Executive Secretary Dr. Stergomena L. Tax shows off executed document affirming her new duties as the new Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community.  

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Lax was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of East African Cooperation.   Right is the Supreme Court Judge Anastazia Msosa, the first ever woman Chief Justice in the  the Republic of Malawi.

H.E. President Joyce Banda of Malawi (2nd left) congratulates Dr. Stergomena L. Tax of the United Republic of Tanzania, SADC's new Executive Secretary.  

It should be noted that Dr. Tax is the first woman to be appointed and serve as an Executive Secretary in the SADC region, whereas President Banda is also the first woman President in both Malawi and in the SADC region, as well as the first woman to be the SADC Chairperson.  

Others in the photo are the Supreme Court Judge Anastazia Msosa, the first ever woman Chief Justice in the  the Republic of Malawi and The African Union Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the first woman to lead the African Union and the first South African.

An historical moment indeed, showing the four women currently in highest position in the SADC region.  From left is the Supreme Court Judge Anastazia Msosa, the first ever woman Chief Justice in the  the Republic of Malawi,  H.E. President Joyce Banda of Malawi (2nd left),  Dr. Stergomena L. Tax of the United Republic of Tanzania, SADC's new Executive Secretary and the African Union Chairperson H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

The outgoing Executive Secretary of the SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão congratulates Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, after she was sworn in as the new Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

Also in the audience were Ambassador Naimi Aziz (3rd left), new Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania in Ethiopia and Judge Frederick Werema (fourth left), Attorney General. 

Ambassador Rajabu Gamaha (3rd right), Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Radhia Msuya (2nd right), High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania in South Africa and Ambassador Adadi Rajab (4th right), High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania in Zimbabwe were also there to witness this historical moment. 

Tanzania delegation that included Acting Permanent Secretary Dr. S. Likwelile from the Ministry of Finance and Senior Advisors to President Kikwete. 

Hon. Dr. Abdallah Kigoda (MP) (left), Minister for Industry and Trade  Hon. Dr. William Mgimwa (MP) (2nd left), Minister of Finance were also in the audience to witness an historical moment.

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (2nd right), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation and Ambassador Patrick Tsere, High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania in Malawi were also in hand to witness an historical moment. 

The new SADC Executive Secretary, Dr. Stergomena L. Tax does an interview with Tanzania media immediately after she was sworn in before Supreme Court Judge Anastazia Msosa, the first ever woman Chief Justice in the  the Republic of Malawi.  The news reporters are Ms. Maulidi Ahmed (left) of the Habari Leo/Daily News, Ms. Ufoo Saro (center) of the ITV and Mr. Adam Gille of the State House. 

During her interview, Dr. Tax expressed her readiness to assume her new duty as an Executive Secretary of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).  "It is an honor for me and for my country to be recognized for such a prestigious post," said Dr. Tax during the interview.

"I am deeply honored and I thank President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete for his support and for believing in me.  I promise to work hard and deliver what is expected out of me.  My goal is to continue strengthening the regional integration and cooperation that has existed in the SADC since its formation," said Executive Secretary Dr. Stergomena L. Tax.

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago 

Activities at the 33rd Heads of State and Government SADC Summit in Lilongwe, Malawi

President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania in a photo with President Joyce Banda of Malawi and President Armando Guebuza of the Republic of Mozambique yesterday. (photo by Malawi State House)

President Kikwete  (left) shares some laughters with President Joyce Banda (center) of Malawi.   Listening on is President Guebuza (right) of Mozambique and President Kabila (3rd left behind) of Democratic Republic of Congo and Ian Khama (2nd right behind) of Botswana yesterday.   (photo by Malawi State House)

More Laughters. 

H.E. President Kikwete explains something during the AIDS Watch in Africa, side event during the two-days 33rd Heads of State and Government SADC Summit in Lilongwe, Malawi. 

Hon. Dr. Mwinyihaji Makame, Minister of State, President's Office in the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government, Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, the new Executive Secretary for the SADC, Hon. Ephraim Chiume, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Malawi and Ambassador Naimi Aziz, the new Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania in Ethiopia. 

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa in a discussion with his Government Officials. 

President Joyce Banda (center) of Malawi opens the AIDS Watch in Africa meeting earlier today.  She is also the new Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairwoman, replacing President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique.   Left the outgoing Executive Secretary Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão and Mrs. Zuma, the African Union Chairwoman.  

SADC Chairwoman President Joyce Banda gives her opening remarks during the AIDS Watch in Africa meeting.  The meeting is a side event for the 33rd Heads of State and Government SADC Summit, attended by many SADC region Leaders including President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. 

Government Officials from different countries during the meeting.

More participants.

Hon. Jan-Paul Adam (left), Foreign Minister of the Republic of Seychelles and other participants.

President of Mauritius giving his remarks during the meeting.

Also in participation was President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique.

Hon. Ephraim Chiume, Foreign Affairs Minister of Malawi and H.E. Arvin Boolell (left), Mauritius Minister of Foreign Affairs.

More participants.

The outgoing Executive Secretary outgoing Executive Secretary Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão.

H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation discussing something during the meeting. 

H.E. Guy Scott, Zambia's Vice President (right).

Swaziland delegation.

Lesotho delegation.

Tanzania delegation.

Angola delegation.

H.E. President Ian Khama of the Botswana. 

H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

H.E. President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (2nd left), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation in a light moment with Hon. Dr. William Augustao Mgimwa (MP) (left), Minister for Finance, Dr. Richard Sezibera (2nd right), the East African Community Secretary General and Mr. Togolani Mavura (right), Private Assistant to Hon. Minister Membe. 

All other photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago 

Katibu Mtendaji mpya wa SADC apongezwa na Katibu Mtendaji aliyemaliza muda wake

Katibu Mtendaji wa SADC anayemaliza muda wake Dr.Tomaz Salomao akimpongeza katibu mtendaji mpya wa jumuiya hiyo Dr.Stergomena Tax wakati wa Mkutano wa 33 wa wakuu wa nchi za SADC unaondelea jijini Lilongwe, Malawi.  Dr.Stergomena ni Katibu Mkuu Wizara ya Afrika Mashariki.   (picha na Freddy Maro)

Rais Guebuza wa Msumbiji amkabidhi Rais Banda wa Malawi Uenyekiti wa SADC

Mwenyekiti wa SADC anayemaliza muda wake Rais Armando Emilio Guebuza wa Msumbiji akimkabidhi uenyekiti wa jumuiya hiyo Rais Dr.Joyce Banda wa Malawi wakati wa ufunguzi wa Mkutano wa 33 wa SADC uliofanyika jijini Lilongwe Malawi.  (picha na Freddy Maro)

Dar secures the SADC Executive Secretary Post

Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Cooperation and the new SADC Executive Secretary.  She will be replacing the outgoing Executive Secretary, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão.  Also in the photo is Ambassador Rajabu Gamaha, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Dar secures the SADC Executive Secretary Post

By TAGIE DAISY MWAKAWAGO

Lilongwe, Malawi

Tanzania has secured SADC’s Executive Secretary post with 79 percent votes, replacing the outgoing Executive Secretary Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão who had served two terms of eight years.  The Southern Africa Development Community Council of Ministers voted last night, ending their two-days meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi.   

“We won 79 percent of the votes, securing a post of Executive Secretary to be held by Dr. Stergomena L. Tax, currently Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Cooperation,” said Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.  We are just now waiting for the Heads of State and Government to approve the nomination when they meet on 17 to 18 August 2013, said Minister Membe.

“This is the first time for a woman to hold such high post in the Community and we are truly honored to have a formidable candidate to secure such a post,” added Hon. Membe.  

The Executive Secretary position was tightly fought, leaving the other candidate from Seychelles, Hon. Peter Sinon, Minister for Investment Natural Resources and Industry with 72 percent of votes.  Indeed, the Ministers have postponed for one month the voting for a Deputy Executive Secretary position, after the current voting could not come into a consensus terms.  South Africa was vying for a Deputy Executive Secretary position.

The Council of Ministers also discussed the future of the SADC Tribunal, its protocol, functions and overall jurisdiction.  The Council left the matters to be further explored by the member states’ Attorney Generals and Ministers of Law and Constitution Matters, and that to provide their report by April 2014.

Meanwhile, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, the current Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC-Troika organ of Politics, Defence and Security),  has already arrived in Malawi yesterday late afternoon, where he chaired a SADC Troika-Organ on Politics, Defence and Security meeting.

During the Troika-Organ meeting, President Kikwete was expected to give a full year report of the Tanzania's Chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.  The President is also expected to handover his Chairmanship to H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia.

Further, in Saturday's Heads of State and Government Summit, the agendas tabled to be discussed are the status of Madagascar, Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo.  For Madagascar, Mr. Joaquim Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique will give his Mediation report which reflects the continued engagement of the Malagasy political stakeholders in efforts to resolve the current deadlock in the electoral process.  The SADC has once again asked the three controversial candidates (President of Transition Andry Rajoelina, former President Didier Ratsiraka and Lalao Ravalomanana, wife of former President Ravalomanana) to remove their names on the presidential election ballot. 

For Zimbabwe, the Summit is to receive a brief report about the recent presidential election, as the matter currently is in Court contested by  the other candidate, the Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.  And lastly for Eastern DR-Congo, the report on the Intervention Brigade. 

Tanzania had played a significant role in addressing regional conflicts that threatened security and political stability in the region throughout the course of her tenure.  Matters on the agenda were the deadlock in the implementation of a political roadmap in Madagascar, the implementation of Global Political Agreement in Zimbabwe, and the deterioration of security situation in Eastern part of the DR Congo following the instability caused by the M23 rebels.

To the latter, another subject in the agenda is to welcome President Joyce Banda of Malawi, who is the new SADC Chairman for the period 2013/2014.  She is replacing President Armando Guebuza of the Republic of Mozambique.

End.