7 October 2008
Windhoek — Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda and a 15-member delegation that includes his wife, Tunu Pinda, are in Namibia on a four-day visit.
The delegation arrived in a State-owned Gulf Stream aircraft, emblazoned with the Tanzanian flag at around 16h00.
His counterpart, Prime Minister Nahas Angula welcomed the delegation. With Angula were Minister of Environment and Tourism, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, John Mutorwa, and other top Namibian Government officials.
A colourful display of traditional Namibian dances formed part of the welcoming formalities, with smatterings of Tanzanians living in Namibia also greeting Pinda, who had last visited Namibia at independence.
The Tanzanian delegation includes ministers of regional administration and local government, and agriculture, livestock and environment.
The high-level delegation from Tanzania visited the Office of the Prime Minister last evening, and will tour Meatco and NamCot Diamond Cutting and Polishing factories in Windhoek today.
They will also pay a courtesy call on the Founding President Sam Nujoma's office.
Tomorrow the delegation will go to Walvis Bay, where they will visit the Merlus Seafood Processing plant, Namport and Namfi.
The following day, they will visit the Etunda Agriculture Scheme, as well as the aquaculture project in the Omusati Region.
The delegation will then proceed to meet President Hifikepunye Pohamba at the new State House.
On their last day, the delegation will meet the African Heads of Mission in Windhoek.
The visit forms part of existing cordial relations between Namibia and Tanzania.
During Namibia's liberation struggle, Tanzania trained hundreds of Swapo's PLAN fighters on its soil, and also provided many Namibians an opportunity to complete their secondary education there.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1991 when Nujoma signed agreements on the establishment of the Namibia/Tanzania Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation.
This commission was inaugurated in 1999 when the then Tanzanian foreign minister Jekaya Kikwete visited Namibia.
The relationship between the two countries was further strengthened during the official opening of the Namibian High Commission in Dar es Salaam in July last year.
Possible areas of cooperation between the two countries are trade, agriculture, education, environment and tourism, fisheries, health, mines and energy, safety and security, arts and culture, as well as sports and youth matters.
(Additional reporting by Nampa)
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