Parliament clarified on absence of ex-presidents during the mass memorial service for Mandela

THE Government has analyzed reasons why its former Ex-Presidents did not attend a special memorial requiem mass service of an icon South African first black President, the late Nelson Mandela which was held FNB stadium in Johannesburg city in South Africa early this week. The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mahadhi Juma Maalim clarified yesterday in Parliament that, the attendance of such highly imminent figures in the country had to be coordinated at the discretion of the President Jakaya Kikwete himself who attended the ceremony leading Tanzanian delegation. He said it was the responsibility of the President who had to decide by himself to include whomever he could decide to accompany him in this important delegation. Mahadhi was responding a supplementary question which was asked by Kigoma North Zitto Zuberi Kabwe (Chadema) who wanted to know why there was no participation of Ex-Presidents of three past government phases in this important historic occasion.

Kigoma North legislator for Chadema, Zitto Zuberi Kabwe

Zitto named the leaders like Ally Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa, and then Prime Minister John Malecela who during the Southern African liberation movement struggles, is the only leader who was lucky to have visited Nelson Mandela while in prison in Reuben Island, off the coast of the Southern tip of African territory. Zitto was amazed to see that, other countries like United States of America had his past Presidents like Bill Clinton and George Bush (junior) attended the ceremony. In the occasion also were former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo. Also in attendance was the former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and  Mozambican former President all of whom were in the icon leaders in the frontline struggle towards the liberation of African continent, but was surprised to see no other national leaders who accompanied President Kikwete. Earlier, Yahya Kassim Issa (CCM) wanted to know what benefits had Tanzania attained as a result of the visit of US President Barrack Obama in the country in July this year. In response, Minister Mahadhi clarified that, Tanzania would benefit from the Power Africa Initiative, a program that was inaugurated by President Obama with a view to help some African countries to develop the energy sector in their countries for the economic development. He named the countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Kenya and Tanzania itself. He said already USD 7 billion is already disbursed and would be used in phases to help facilitate the program in these countries