Wider diplomatic coverage good for Tanzania EDITOR

The very fact that we are opening more embassies in different parts of the world serves to illustrate our desire to have more international interaction to open ourselves out more to the wider world.

In the spirit of non-alignment, which this country has identified itself with from the word ‘go’ since independence in 1961, all the five phases of our government have been establishing diplomatic presence abroad in the order of importance on matters of policy and depending on financial capability.

According to one definition, embassies– and consulates to a lesser degree) - are the official points of contact between foreign governments and the host government.

Ambassadors serve as the personal representative of the heads of government; in Tanzania’s case, the President. Speaking to an ambassador is viewed as more-or-less equivalent to speaking to the president, prime minister, king, etc.

Embassies and the staff in them are guided by a set of privileges spelt out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. These describe diplomatic immunity for actions performed in the course of official duties, tax exemptions, privacy of diplomatic correspondence, etc.

Appointees to the post of ambassador or high commissioner (for Commonwealth Countries) are done by heads of state/government personally, based on proven impeccable service to the nation or on the advice of other top organs of the state.

Holders must, therefore, be persons of integrity and dedicated service to one’s nation. We have taken special note of the fact that in his ‘diplomatic appointments’ this time, President Magufuli has considered some of the influential figures in the ruling CCM party both Mainland and Zanzibar governments, some of whom were not ‘necessarily’ his active supporters in last year’s general elections.

Seeing that they have also been included in the list of new Foreign Service appointments serves as a desire by the president to restore and boost greater national unity after the elections that saw major splits in allegiance.

It also underlines the president’s intention to open up more to the world as he goes about building a more economically stable country for which foreign goodwill and assistance will very much count.