Former President Lazarus Chakwera has completed his four-day assignment in Tanzania as the country’s business community grapples to rebuild following massive destruction occasioned by the October 29 General elections.
Chakwera, who was appointed as Special Envoy to the United Republic of Tanzania on Monday, November 17, was tasked with initiating an inclusive discussion with stakeholders to address issues surrounding the elections and to support the start of national dialogue on reconciliation and development.
He was appointed by the Commonwealth Secretary General, Shirley Botchwey, to also engage national and international stakeholders as Tanzania seeks to rebuild its image abroad to help secure development funds.
“As an African from a neighbouring country who has followed the situation in Tanzania closely, I am deeply honoured by this invitation to serve as special envoy,” Chakwera said upon his appointment.
The reconciliation efforts, backed by the Tanzanian government, will also help with its international relations efforts which are key to sustaining their relationships with development partners.
As the G20 leaders prepare to meet a stone’s throw away in South Africa this weekend, Tanzania, whose President Samia Suluhu Hassan made history in last year’s summit, is looking to rebuild its image within the international community following the election violence witnessed last month.
Suluhu said the political turbulence had tainted its image abroad, thereby risking their chances of getting funding support from international partners.
During the G20 Summit 2024, Suluhu became the first female African leader to participate in the annual gathering of leaders from 19 of the world’s largest economies that represent 85% of the world’s GDP.
Suluhu will not attend the Johannesburg meeting this year, but there are hopes from the business community that the G20 summit being held in Africa for the first time will shine a spotlight on their woes to support the government in restoration efforts.
“As you know, most times we depend on outside support and loans from international institutions and banks,” she said during the swearing in of her cabinet on Tuesday, November 18.
“But what happened in our country has stained us a bit which may hurt our reputation when it comes to getting loans easily as we did in the first term,” Suluhu noted.
The need to rebuild is dire as hundreds of businesses were affected and thousands of jobs lost or in jeopardy. Tanzania’s business community comprising famous musicians, oil marketing companies and high-end restaurants among others are still counting losses following the election violence.
“So far we have resumed our business in some of the affected stations and we are also looking for government support on how we are going to repair our damaged fuel infrastructure and fully resume business,” said Stephen Mtemi, Lake Oil Group’s Corporate Affairs and Legal Director.
The energy conglomerate group said 38 of its fuel stations were vandalised and destroyed during the violence affecting 300 of its employees. Besides Tanzania, Lake Oil Group has operations in East and Central Africa spanning Kenya, Zambia, DRC, Burundi, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
Other affected businesses include Vita-Foam mattress factories, Super Banco in Buhongwa, Mwanza, a youth-training centre in the same area which had its equipment stolen and the premises torched, long-distance transport businesses Shabiby and Esther Coach and public buses managed by the Dar Rapid Transit Agency just to name a few.
Local musician Juma Jux, who opened an apparel factory in Dar es Salaam employing hundreds of people, was also affected. Juma Jux’s boutique (African Boy) and high-end entertainment hub and restaurant, the Voice, were looted extensively and some of the property destroyed.
Suluhu has called on her cabinet to look within for development funding as the country tries to stabilise.
And as the G20 nations plan to meet a stone-throw away in South Africa this weekend, the first time on African soil, Tanzania can only hope to draw on gains made last year when their president’s attendance at the time was on the back of rising global influence.
South Africa is the only African country in the G20. Others are: China, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Turkey, France, USA, Germany, Canada, Russia, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Italy, India, the UK, the European Union and since 2023, the African Union.
They will be meeting from 22nd November in Johannesburg under the theme solidarity, equality and sustainability.
