TANZANIAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO LESOTHO

UNCLAS MASERU 000190 SIPDIS SIPDIS RANGOON FOR PATRICK MURPHY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL TZ LT SUBJECT: TANZANIAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO LESOTHO ¶1. The newly elected President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, made an official visit to Lesotho from April 19 to 20, 2006. During his two-day visit, President Kikwete had an audience with His Majesty King Letsie III, and also held talks with Prime Minister Mosisili. ¶2. King Letsie III hosted a banquet in honor of the President. In his speech at the banquet, King Letsie expressed hope that the long established cordial relations between Lesotho and Tanzania be enhanced through future economic and political cooperation. Speaking at the same occasion, President Kikwete stated that the two countries have common history and cooperation established during the reign of the late King Moshoeshoe II and former late President Julius Nyerere. He assured both Basotho and Tanzanians that he will further strengthen the existing cordial relations and indicated that he has already identified strategies, which include unspecified trade exchanges between Lesotho and Tanzania. ¶3. His visit to Lesotho is part of a regional tour meant to familiarize and introduce him to the heads of state and government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Kikwete was elected President on December 21, 2005, after he won 80% victory in the presidential elections. He succeeds Benjamin Mkapa who visited Lesotho in September 2005. Tanzania is viewed as a supporter of Lesotho during the apartheid era and this visit, according to senior GOL authorities, was essentially one of courtesy to thank the GOT for its role in southern Africa's liberation struggles. PERRY