DAR ES SALAAM, May 21 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — TANZANIAN President Samia Suluhu Hassan has launched the new Tanzania Foreign Policy (2024 Edition), which seeks to align with significant global transformations that have occurred over the past 24 years since the previous policy was introduced in 2001.
Speaking at the launch, President Samia urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify training and awareness programmes for public institutions.
She emphasized the need for these institutions to understand the content of the new policy and how it directly impacts their daily responsibilities.
President Samia also addressed the challenges posed by rapid technological advancement, particularly in the context of misinformation and cyber threats to national dignity and sovereignty. She called on the Ministry and security agencies to respond swiftly by clarifying, refuting, or acknowledging and acting on misinformation to protect the country’s image and national interests.
She noted that the review of the foreign policy began in 2021, and the 2024 edition introduces eight key pillars, up from seven in the 2021 version.
She described that originally, the 2001 policy had nine pillars, which were reduced to seven in the 2021 update.
The latest one pillar added focuses on safeguarding and promoting Tanzanian values, traditions, and culture, with a strong emphasis on the promotion and use of the Kiswahili language.
As part of ongoing diplomatic reforms, President Samia said the government had appointed ambassadors aged 55 and below to inject new energy and continuity into Tanzania’s diplomatic engagements.
The government has also increased the number of officers stationed in foreign missions to review the welfare of diplomatic staff.
The President highlighted Tanzania’s growing diplomatic footprint, revealing that the country now maintains 45 embassies abroad and three consulates located in Dubai, Lubumbashi, and Guangzhou. In total, Tanzania has 65 foreign missions.
“This is a journey of new thinking in building our diplomatic presence and positioning our country and government on the international stage. If properly implemented, we envision a bold and confident Tanzania, one that asserts its place on international platforms and stands firm in upholding truth and justice,” she said.
Zanzibar President Dr. Hussein Mwinyi echoed her sentiments, saying the policy demonstrates how the country is strengthening its strategic position globally.
He said its implementation would unlock new economic, political, and social opportunities for both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Dr. Mwinyi also encouraged the Ministry to persuade friendly nations to open consulates or representative offices in Zanzibar to bring consular services closer to both citizens and visitors.
Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister, Dr. Thabiti Kombo, said the new policy was developed through wide consultations across various regions and included views from the Tanzanian diaspora.
Dr. Kombo called on the President to ensure that three critical steps are taken during the policy’s implementation: providing economic diplomacy training across government institutions; appointing specialized economic diplomacy officers in embassies and key sectors to identify and exploit international opportunities; and establishing economic diplomacy desks in embassies to enhance Tanzania’s competitiveness in the global marketplace. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
