EAC Diasporian in the U.S. salutes Ambassador Mulamula and the EAC Trio-Sister Ambassadors

The EAC Trio-Sister Ambassadors

Posted on August 19, 2015 by glouisg

The EAC Trio-Sister Ambassadors

Ambassador Liberata Mulamula poses with US President Barack Obama

In the world of diplomacy, honesty is a sacred taboo. And if diplomacy had guidelines, all diplomats would wear the tag of success in government foreign services. This story is about three sisters who defied the principles of diplomacy.

You might have read their names in the papers, or rubbed shoulders with them— they all have one thing in common: “Ambassador” Mukantabana Mathilde from Rwanda, Mulamula Liberata from Tanzania, and Oliver Onekha of Uganda.

I was privileged to be invited to a dinner where several ambassadors had gathered to bid farewell to Mulamula. In two years of service to Washington, she had become a sister, a mother and a model diplomat to many.

They all met the same day, in a very unlikely place to meet: “the White House,” each waiting to present credentials to president Barack Obama. Their journey starts here. In a landscape where political compass offers no navigation guarantees.

Their meeting at the White House was serendipitous, each one emitting a faint hint of pride— but would soon realize the path to diplomacy was a perfect balance of bureaucratic storms. In Washington, what is certain is that nothing prepares you for churning political currents.

Mathilde came to Washington as an academician, teaching American history in college. As a person, her humility is a purity best left unexplained. She is tender, raw whose eloquence leaves you perplexed with amazement.

Mulamula is fiery and has earned the title of career diplomat. Prior to her coming to Washington, she served at the Tanzanian High Commission to Canada and Permanent Mission to New York. She became the mentor and guide for her sisters.

Oliver on the other hand, is the glue that holds the group together. Quiet but not shy, she brings order with assuring comfort. Their presence together is an impenetrable shield of power. They defend each other heartedly and that does not sit well with haters. I bade adieu to a diplomat who fortified the group and vilified ill wishers.

In a foreign land far from home, they built a sister-relationship at the time when relations between Rwanda and Tanzania were at its lowest. What the triplets have built is a trans-generational relationship that transcends diplomatic expectations.

This relationship exemplifies what other African Ambassadors could adopt. I am still troubled by the fact that the west still sees Africa as one entity. This leads some ambassadors to play appeasing diplomacy… where they plead hard even when it means to betray others for acceptance sakes.

Now that Africa is not merely dealing with wartime diplomacy as was the case for many years, it’s time to look beyond invisible borders and unify Africa in the eyes of foreigners. The trios played a self-contained diplomacy, one that looks beyond political leaders but that starts with individuals to reflect national interest.

In this context, Mr. Schlesinger would say that success and failure of diplomacy must be defined against opportunities to change the direction of events. The sisters had succeeded in doing just that. Together, they organized and held events together— Africa Day, Launch of the East African Visa, national holiday celebrations and more.

Small things matter in diplomacy. Recently in his battle on Iran Nuclear Deal, Secretary of State John Kerry would have his counterparts call him in his first name. It’s friendly and eliminates unnecessary distance. The triplets, not only do their refer in first name but also where the three meet expect unfiltered éclat of laughter.

Saying goodbye is never an easy thing. At dinner table, I absorbed details of their relationship. Their love is a scar buried beneath shreds of regret. In that moment, the words of Warren Butcher rang in my head: “Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” They live beyond this… that’s a lesson I learned.

Louis Gakumba

Twitter: Lgakumba

Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana and President Obama and bellow is Ambassador Oliver Onekha of Uganda and President Obama

Umoja wa Mataifa waanza maadhimisho ya miaka 70 kwa kupanda miti Hifadhi ya Mlima Kilimanjaro

Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais- Mazingira,  Mhe. Binilith Mahenge  akiwahutubia wananchi (hawapo pichani) kwa niaba ya Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Mhe. Dkt. Mohamed  Gharib Bilal wakati wa tukio la upandaji miti ikiwa ni sehemu ya Maadhimisho ya miaka 70 ya Ummoja wa Mataifa lilofanyika katika Kijiji cha Marua, Mkoani Kilimanjaro. Mhe. Waziri aliwaasa wananchi waliojitokeza na Watanzania kwa ujumla kulinda na kuhifadhi mazingira

Mabalozi na Wakuu wa Mashirika ya Kimataifa wakimsikiliza kwa makini Mhe. Waziri Mahenge (hayupo pichani).

Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Maendeleo la Umoja wa Mataifa (UNDP) nchini, Alvaro Rodriguez, naye akizungumza katika maadhimisho hayo.

Balozi wa Ummoja wa Ulaya nchini,  Mhe. Filiberto Sebregondi aye alipata fursa ya kuzungumza katika maadhimisho hayo na kuwapongeza wananchi wa mkoa wa Kilimanjaro kwa kutunza mazingira

 Juu ni wananchi wa kijiji cha Marua waliojitokeza kwenye maadhimisho hayo

Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Moshi Mjini, Bw. Novatus Makunga akizungumza kwa niaba ya Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Kilimanjaro wakati wa tukio la upandaji miti ikiwa ni Maadhimisho ya miaka 70 ya Umoja wa Mataifa

Sehemu nyingine ya wananchi wakifuatilia hotuba mbalimbali zilizokuwa zikitolewa na viongozi mbalimbali waliohudhuria maadhimisho hayo (hawapo pichani)

Mhe. Waziri Mahenge (mwenye koti la kijivu) akikata utepe kuashiria uzinduzi wa upandaji miti rasmi (wapili kushoto mstari wa mbele) ni Mhe. Alvaro pamoja na Mabalozi na Wakuu wa Mashirika ya Kimataifa nchini. 

Mhe. Waziri akipanda mti kuzindua zoezi la upandaji miti katika Vijiji vya Marua na Rua vilivyopo pembezoni mwa Mlima Kilimanjaro

Mhe. Alvaro naye akipanda Mti wake kwenye maadhimisho hayo

Mhe. Waziri (katikati mstari wa Mbele) pamoja na viongozi wengine wakipanda miti kwa pamoja.

Mkurugenzi Idara ya Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa Balozi Celestene Mushy akiwa katika zoezi la kupanda Mti 

Mkurugenzi Msaidizi katika  Idara ya Afrika, Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Bw. Omar Mjenga naye akishiriki zoezi la kupanda miti

Burudani za ngoma mbalimbali zilitolewa na Wanafunzi wa  Chuo cha Ualimu Marangu 

Viongozi waliopo meza kuu wakiwapongeza kwa kuwapigia makofi kikundi hicho cha ngoma (hakipo pichani).

Burudani zikiendelea

Mhe. Waziri akizindua Jiwe la Msingi katika maadhimisho hayo

Maafisa Mambo ya Nje nao walishiriki kikamilifu katika maadhimisho hayo

Mhe. Waziri Mahenge akiwa katika picha ya pamoja na Mabalozi Mbalimbali wanaoziwakilisha nchi zao hapa nchini pia Watendaji  mbalimbali kutoka Serikalini na Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa nchini

Picha ya Pamoja

Balozi Mushy (kushoto) wakimsikiliza Balozi wa Ireland nchini Mhe. Fionnuala Gilsenan (katikati), kulia ni Babozi Juma Halfan  Mpango 

Balozi Mpango akiwa na Bw. Omar Mjenga, Mkurugenzi Msaidizi katika Idara ya Afrika, Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa.

Balozi Mushy akijibu moja ya maswali aliyoulizwa na Bw. Pascal Mayala wakati Viongozi hao walipozungumza na waandishi wa habari kuhusu maadhimisho ya miaka 70 ya Umoja wa Mataifa

Picha na Reginald Philip

============================================

Na Mwandishi Wetu,

Makamu wa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, Mhe. Dkt. Mohamed Gharib Bilal amewaasa Watanzania hususan wakazi wa eneo la Hifadhi ya Mlima Kilimanjaro kufanya jitihada za makusudi kutunza maeneo yanayozunguka Mlima huo ili uendelee kuwa kivutio kikubwa cha utalii nchini kwa ajili ya maendeleo yao na kwa Taifa kwa ujumla.

Hayo yamesemwa kwa niaba yake na Waziri wa Nchi, Ofisi ya Makamu wa Rais-Mazingira, Mhe. Binilith Mahenge (Mb.) alipowasilisha hotuba wakati wa tukio la upandaji miti ambalo ni sehemu ya maadhimisho ya miaka 70  ya Umoja wa Mataifa lililofanyika leo katika Hifadhi ya Mlima Kilimanjaro, Kijiji cha Marua, Mkoani Kilimanjaro.

Mhe. Bilal alisema kuwa, Mlima Kilimanjaro ambao ni mrefu zaidi Afrika, unaosimama peke yake na wenye barafu kwa mwaka mzima pamoja na kwamba hali ya hewa ya Tanzania ni joto sana ni moja ya vivutio vikubwa vya utalii ambavyo vinachangia kwenye pato la taifa na hata kipato cha mwananchi mmoja mmoja kwa Kilimanjaro na maeneo yanayozunguka mkoa huo.

“Nawaasa wazee wangu na wakazi wote wa Kilimanjaro kuwa na jitihada za makusudi kutunza maeneo yanayozunguka mlima huu na tusisubiri watu kutoka Dar es Salaam na maeneo mengine ya mbali kufanya kazi hiyo”, ilisisitiza sehemu ya hotuba ya Dkt. Bilal.

Akizungumzia matukio kuelekea maadhimisho ya miaka 70 ya Umoja wa Mataifa ambayo yatafikia kilele tarehe 24 Oktoba mwaka huu, Mhe. Bilal alipongeza na kuwashukuru waandaji wa shughuli hiyo wakiongozwa na Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Timu ya Umoja wa Mataifa hapa nchini na TANAPA kwa kuwekea msisitizo umuhimu wa kulinda na kutunza mazingira.

Aliongeza  kuwa japo hapo awali, Umoja wa Mataifa uliundwa kutokana na vita na mapigano yaliyojitokeza duniani miaka ya nyuma anafarijika kuona Umoja huo kwa sasa umebadilika na umekuwa ni chombo cha kupigania na kutetea haki za binadamu na utunzajia wa mazingira.

“Nichukue fursa hii kupongeza Kaulimbiu ya Maadhimisho ya miaka 70 ya Umoja wa Mataifa inayosema “Umoja wa Mataifa wenye Nguvu, Dunia Bora” na ile kaulimbiu yetu ya hapa nchini inayosema:”Dunia Moja Watu Bilioni Saba; Kutunza Mazingira ni Wajibu Wetu”. Hivyo ni wajibu wa kila mmoja wetu kutunza mazingira ili kuhakikisha watu hao bilioni saba hawaangamii,” alisema Mhe. Dkt. Bilal.

Mhe. Dkt. Bilal aliongeza kusema kuwa, wakati umoja wa Mataifa ukiadhimisha miaka 70 mwaka huu, pia utakuwa na matukio mengine matatu makubwa ambayo ni kuhitimisha  utekelezajii wa Malengo ya Milenia, Kupitishwa kwa agenda mpya ya Maendeleo Endelevu baada ya mwaka 2015 na kupitishwa kwa mkataba mpya wa Mambadiliko ya Tabianchi utakaorithi Itifaki ya sasa ya Kyoto.

Awali akizungumza kwa niaba ya Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Kilimanjaro, Mhe. Leonidas Gama, Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Moshi Vijijini, Mhe. Novatus Makunga alisema kuwa Mkoa huo umejitahidi kuchukua hatua mbalimbali za kukabiliana na uharibifu wa mazingira ya Hifadhi ya Mlima Kilimanjaro ikiwemo kusitisha vibali vya uvunaji wa miti ya mbao na kuni; kuhimiza matumizi ya nishati mbabadala kwenye taasisi za shule, vyuo na magereza; kuhamasisha wananchi kupanda miti kwenye vyanzo vya maji pamoja na kuhifadhi misitu ya asili.”Tunapongeza Taasisi zote zilizoamua kuchagua Mkoa wetu kwa maadhimisho haya ya upandaji miti kwani yameongeza uelewa na ari kwa wananchi kuwa utunzaji mazingira ni jukumu la kila mmoja wetu”, alisema Mhe. Gama.

Naye Mratibu Mkazi wa Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mwakilishi wa Shirika la Maendeleo ya Umoja wa Mataifa (UNDP) nchini, Bw. Alvaro Rodriguez alisema kuwa Umoja wa Mataifa unajivunia miaka 70 ya mafanikio katika kukabiliana na changmoto mbalimbali zinazoikabili duniani kama vita, uharibifu wa mazingira, ukiukwaji wa haki za binadamu  na kwamba maadhimisho hayo ni fursa ya kutathmini mafanikio hayo na kuongeza juhudi zaidi katika kukabiliana na changamoto hizo  ili kuzimaliza kabisa.

Aliongeza kuwa Umoja huo utaendelea kushirikiana kwa karibu na Tanzania ili kuiwezesha kufikia malengo ya maendeleo na kutoa wito kwa Serikali kuridhia Malengo mapya ya maendeleo endelevu.

Kwa upande wake Kiongozi wa Mabalozi wa Umoja wa Ulaya nchini, Mhe. Filberto Ceriani Sebregondi alisema kuwa Umoja huo utaendelea kusaidia miradi mbalimbali ya maendeleo nchini ikiwemo ile ya utunzaji misitu, maji na kilimo pamoja na kuimarisha wakala mbalimbali za taifa ili kweza kukabiliana na Mabadiliko ya tabianchi.

Tukio hilo la upandaji miti ambalo ni sehemu ya maadhimisho ya miaka 70 ya Umoja wa Mataifa ambayo yatafikia kilele tarehe 24 Oktoba, 2015, lilihudhuriwa na Watendaji kutoka Serikalini akiwemo Mkurugenzi wa Idara ya Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa katika Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa, Balozi Celestine Mushy, Mabalozi na Wawakilishi wa Mashirika ya Kimataifa na Wananchi.

-Mwisho-

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.