Tanzania celebrates 50 years of independence

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has congratulated President Jakaya Kikwete, the Government and the people of Tanzania on the occasion of Tanzania's golden jubilee.

Congratulating the people of Tanzania on this great milestone, President Zuma recalled the important role which the newly independent Tanzania played in the early 1960s when it welcomed, hosted and supported many liberation movements from the Southern African region.

He said many South Africans spent three decades in Tanzania, a country that took a principled position to support fellow African countries in their quest for freedom and justice, thus demonstrating an incredible kindness, humanity, resolve and ubuntu.

"The people of South Africa correctly join their Tanzanian sisters and brothers as they pause and reflect on a long but successful road which they have traversed since 1961", said President Zuma.

Having reached this milestone, Tanzania like many African countries continues to embark on a process of national development and fight against poverty and underdevelopment.

South Africa which faces the same challenges is committed to working with this sister Republic within the framework of the newly established Bi-National Commission in tackling these socio-economic challenges for the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries.