Tanzania's wolf warrior diplomacy continues to win against Kenya

Tanzania's wolf warrior diplomacy continues to win against Kenya
Tanzania continues to restrict free movement of labour across its borders

In Summary

• In the recent case, Tanzania on Wednesday lifted a ban on Kenyan airlines, including national career Kenya Airways.
• This was a day after Kenya included it in the list whose national need not quarantine once they arrive in the country.


Tanzania’s confrontational diplomacy seems to always win every time there is a diplomatic spat with Kenya.

In the latest incident, Tanzania on Wednesday lifted a ban on Kenyan airlines, including national career Kenya Airways, a day after Kenya included it in the list of countries whose nationals need not quarantine once they arrive in the country.

The interpretation was that it was a win for Tanzania, despite other states being added to the revised list.

‘Confrontational diplomacy’ can be drawn from "wolf warrior diplomacy", which is popularly used by the Chinese. It is characterised by Chinese diplomats' use of confrontational rhetoric. It was also common between Malaysia and Singapore until Prime Minister Najib Razak put an end to it in 2018.

Tanzania banned Kenya Airways, Fly 540, Air Kenya Express and Safarilink Aviation in August after being excluded from the list of countries whose nationals would be allowed entry under revised coronavirus restrictions.

“Diplomacy is governed by a principle known as reciprocity, and Kenya has excluded Tanzania from countries whose flights can access its airspace. At this time, they [Kenyans] can stop coming. It is not a tiff but a diplomatic principle,” Tanzania spokesperson Hassan Abbasi said on August 11.

Kenyan officials, including Foreign Affairs CAS Ababu Namwamba, denied any diplomatic spat.

Earlier in May, Tanzania barred Kenyan truck drivers from entering the country. This followed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s closure of Kenya’s border with Tanzania and Somalia to curb the spread of coronavirus. Somalia did not retaliate.

Uhuru had to call his Tanzanian counterpart, John Magufuli, to ‘resolve’ the brewing diplomatic row.

At stake was trade between the two states. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Kenyan exports to Tanzania grew by 13 per cent to Sh33.9 billion in 2019.

Last year, Uhuru sent a delegation led by CS Monica Juma and comprised of DCI George Kinoti, DPP Noordin Haji and Attorney General Paul Kihara to return 35kg of gold seized by police to Tanzania.

That was not enough. Uhuru called Magufuli during the handover and said, “My brother, I say we continue working together and Kenya and Tanzania has no borders as we agreed."

Previously, there was a spat over tourism revolving around the 1985 bilateral agreement.

The agreement does not allow tour vans to access parks and airports in either of the states. They should hand over and/ or pick visitors at border points. Kenya has however been allowing in Tanzanian vans, unlike Dar.

This caused an uproar in January 2015 by Kenyan operators who protested against “invasion” by Tanzanians, while they were not allowed to cross over to Tanzania.

Former EAC and Tourism CS Phyllis Kandie then accused Tanzania of dragging its feet in resolving the dispute long after the EAC states developed a single tourism visa for the region.

Tanzania escalated the trade spat in February when it imposed fresh quality verification standards for Kenyan products.

Tanzania continues to restrict free movement of labour across its borders – failing to issue work permits – despite it ratifying the common market protocol.

In 2018, Dar es Salaam imposed a 25 per cent import duty on Kenyan confectionery, claiming Kenya had used zero-rated industrial sugar imports to produce them

Kenya seems to be taking all this it in its stride.

Tanzania's wolf warrior diplomacy continues to win against Kenya

Hawa waache kulia lia kama watoto wadogo.

Nisichokipenda, ni jinsi vyombo vingi vya habari vya nje (kuanzia Kenya), kupenda kutumia picha ya Rais Magufuli akiwa kwenye podium ya kenya. Kwa wasiojua vizuri jiografia na siasa zetu, wanaweza kudhani yeye ni Rais wa Kenya.

Chamoto said:

Nisichokipenda, ni jinsi vyombo vingi vya habari vya nje (kuanzia Kenya), kupenda kutumia picha ya Rais Magufuli akiwa kwenye podium ya kenya. Kwa wasiojua vizuri jiografia na siasa zetu, wanaweza kudhani yeye ni Rais wa Kenya.

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wanamu-eny!

What l have noticed from the article is that,Kenya is harassed by Tanzania.
👇👇

Geza Ulole said:

The agreement does not allow tour vans to access parks and airports in either of the states. They should hand over and/ or pick visitors at border points. Kenya has however been allowing in Tanzanian vans, unlike Dar

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Ntaghacha said:

What l have noticed from the article is that,Kenya is harassed by Tanzania.
[emoji116][emoji116]

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Ni kawaida ya wakenya kuhisi wao hawana makosa, siku zote makosa yapo kwa yule wanayekwaruzana naye "Crying baby syndrome".

joto la jiwe said:

Ni kawaida ya wakenya kuhisi wao hawana makosa, siku zote makosa yapo kwa yule wanayekwaruzana naye "Crying baby syndrome".

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Mzee wa spana atawapiga spana mpaka wakome hawa nyangau

..."Kenya seems to be taking all this it in
its stride"... Well said, Kenya ipo focused na sio kwenye vitu vya kipumbavu kama malumbano ya kitoto. Tangia mzee wenu wa mikwara hapo ikulu afanye ule uhuni wa kutia kiberiti vifanga kutoka Kenya Tz hamjafaidi kwa njia yeyote, iwe kibiashara, kimaendeleo au kiuchumi kwa ujumla. Ila kwa muda huo Tz mmevunja rekodi ya miaka sita ya kununua bidhaa nyingi kutoka Kenya. Kenya imezidi kupanua 'deficit' ya kibiashara, ambapo Tz inanua bidhaa nyingi zaidi ya inazouzia Kenya. Shughuli bandarini Mombasa zimeendelea kunawiri, huku mizigo inayoagizwa na watz kupitia bandari hiyo ikiongezeka kwa 47%. Kampuni za Kenya zimeendelea kutanua misuli ukanda huu na benki za Kenya zimeendelea kufanya vizuri nchini Tz. Gap ya kiuchumi kati ya Kenya na Tz imeendelea kupanuka, n.k, n.k. Nawapa pongezi rais U.Kenyatta na balozi Dan Kazungu kwa 'response' yao, 'strategy' zao na uvumilivu wao. Biashara kwanza na ubabe bila misheni za hela ni sifa za kijinga.

pingli-nywee said:

..."Kenya seems to be taking all this it in
its stride"... Well said, Kenya ipo focused na sio kwenye vitu vya kipumbavu kama malumbano ya kitoto. Tangia mzee wenu wa mikwara hapo ikulu afanye ule uhuni wa kutia kiberiti vifanga kutoka Kenya Tz hamjafaidi kwa njia yeyote, iwe kibiashara, kimaendeleo au kiuchumi kwa ujumla. Ila kwa muda huo Tz mmevunja rekodi ya miaka sita ya kununua bidhaa nyingi kutoka Kenya. Kenya imezidi kupanua 'deficit' ya kibiashara, ambapo Tz inanua bidhaa nyingi zaidi ya inazouzia Kenya. Shughuli bandarini Mombasa zimeendelea kunawiri, huku mizigo inayoagizwa na watz kupitia bandari hiyo ikiongezeka kwa 47%. Kampuni za Kenya zimeendelea kutanua misuli ukanda huu na benki za Kenya zimeendelea kufanya vizuri nchini Tz. Gap ya kiuchumi kati ya Kenya na Tz imeendelea kupanuka, n.k, n.k. Nawapa pongezi rais U.Kenyatta na balozi Dan Kazungu kwa 'response' yao, 'strategy' zao na uvumilivu wao. Biashara kwanza na ubabe bila misheni za hela ni sifa za kijinga.

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Evidence? Au ni zile nyimbo zenu za kawaida! Can u break down on us what exactly do we buy from Kunyaland with evidence plse!

pingli-nywee said:

..."Kenya seems to be taking all this it in
its stride"... Well said, Kenya ipo focused na sio kwenye vitu vya kipumbavu kama malumbano ya kitoto. Tangia mzee wenu wa mikwara hapo ikulu afanye ule uhuni wa kutia kiberiti vifanga kutoka Kenya Tz hamjafaidi kwa njia yeyote, iwe kibiashara, kimaendeleo au kiuchumi kwa ujumla. Ila kwa muda huo Tz mmevunja rekodi ya miaka sita ya kununua bidhaa nyingi kutoka Kenya. Kenya imezidi kupanua 'deficit' ya kibiashara, ambapo Tz inanua bidhaa nyingi zaidi ya inazouzia Kenya. Shughuli bandarini Mombasa zimeendelea kunawiri, huku mizigo inayoagizwa na watz kupitia bandari hiyo ikiongezeka kwa 47%. Kampuni za Kenya zimeendelea kutanua misuli ukanda huu na benki za Kenya zimeendelea kufanya vizuri nchini Tz. Gap ya kiuchumi kati ya Kenya na Tz imeendelea kupanuka, n.k, n.k. Nawapa pongezi rais U.Kenyatta na balozi Dan Kazungu kwa 'response' yao, 'strategy' zao na uvumilivu wao. Biashara kwanza na ubabe bila misheni za hela ni sifa za kijinga.

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Tanzania wins over Kenya not because Tanzania is strong, not at all, the main reasons why Tanzania always wins is because Kenyans majority are stupid, they never reason before they act, ultimately they end up losing and swallowing their pride. Was there any reason not to include Tanzania on the first list, if yes why including it now while nothing has changed?

Geza Ulole said:

Evidence? Au ni zile nyimbo zenu za kawaida! Can u break down on us what exactly do we buy from Kunyaland with evidence plse!

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Mzee, kwenye awamu hii ya jiwe Kenya imefaidi kibiashara sio mchezo. Pata uhondo kidogo kutoka kwa TRA yenu, takwimu za 2020. >>>Tanzania trade with Kenya turns into deficit Kumbuka pia kwamba Kenya ndio nchi inayoshikilia nafasi ya pili kwa uwekezaji nchini Tz, baada ya UK. Kampuni za Kenya zinatoa ajira kwa wingi nchini Tz na zinashikilia % kubwa ya uchumi wenu, tena sanasana kwenye sekta nyeti ya fedha. Hayo yote hayajabadilika licha ya wivu na chuki za mzee wenu hapo ikulu. Nashangaa hata kwenye ule ubabe wenu feki wa kupiga ban KQ mliachia na bado mkatoka kapa, maanake hadi leo hii ATCL haitui Kenya. Hamna strategy zozote za maana na zinazoshirikisha ubongo kibiashara dhidi ya Kenya. Magu tano tena!

pingli-nywee said:

Mzee, kwenye awamu hii ya jiwe Kenya imefaidi kibiashara sio mchezo. Pata uhondo kidogo kutoka kwa TRA yenu, takwimu za 2020. >>>Tanzania trade with Kenya turns into deficit Kumbuka pia kwamba Kenya ndio nchi inayoshikilia nafasi ya pili kwa uwekezaji nchini Tz, baada ya UK. Kampuni za Kenya zinatoa ajira kwa wingi nchini Tz na zinashikilia % kubwa ya uchumi wenu, tena sanasana kwenye sekta nyeti ya fedha. Hayo yote hayajabadilika licha ya wivu na chuki za mzee wenu hapo ikulu. Nashangaa hata kwenye ule ubabe wenu feki wa kupiga ban KQ mliachia na bado mkatoka kapa, maanake hadi leo hii ATCL haitui Kenya. Hamna strategy zozote za maana na zinazoshirikisha ubongo kibiashara dhidi ya Kenya. Magu tano tena!

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wacha upumbavu Kenya si namba ya pili kwa uwekezaji Tanzania! $35 mln of a surplus is peanut! Kunyaland hiihii tunayoilisha iwe 2nd investor kwa Tanzania?

Why China has become leading foreign investor in Tanzania


THURSDAY MAY 16 2019


TIC executive director Geoffrey Mwambe. Photo |File
By John Namkwahe @johnteck3 jnamkwahe@tz.nationmedia.com

Dar es Salaam. China has leapfrogged its Western peers to become the largest foreign investor in Tanzania, thanks to the aggressiveness of its people in searching for new markets outside the world’s most populous country.

Eight years ago, China was sixth among countries with the largest investments in Tanzania behind the UK, the US, South Africa and Kenya.

But latest figures by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) show that China had moved into second place in 2012 before taking the top slot a few years ago.

Cumulative figures for the period between 1990 and 2017 show that China is leading with investments worth $5.963 billion.
The UK came second with investments valued at $5.54 billion while the US, Mauritius and India completed the top five list with investments worth $4.7 billion, $4.308 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively.

TIC executive director Geoffrey Mwambe told The Citizen that the trend explains a tendency by Chinese nationals to aggressively look for new investment opportunities outside their country.


“The Chinese have a tendency to invest in diverse sectors. They are in infrastructure development, agriculture, manufacturing and even the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), among other sectors,” he said.

In a speech delivered in November 2012 in Dar es Salaam during the inauguration of the construction of the $1.225 billion natural gas pipeline project, the former Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing, said Tanzania remains one of the key focus areas for the Asian nation. Available data show that in 2014 alone, Tanzania accounted for 16.3 per cent of China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) to Africa.

Tanzania’s ambassador to China, Mr Mbelwa Kairuki, said a number of promotional initiatives have been conducted by the East African nation in the world’s second largest economy during the past few years.

“It’s been hectic during the past years,” he said, detailing a number of meetings that took place in the last few years.

Mr Kairuki, who has been Tanzania’s ambassador to China since 2016, said in conjunction with TIC, the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), members of the business community in Tanzania as well as with past and present top government leaders in both countries, a lot of work had been done with regard to promoting Tanzania in China as a preferred investment destination.

These initiatives could have been boosted further by those which focus primarily on Tanzania and other East African nations for China’s Africa economic strategy.

A Chinese official, Mr Cao Jiachang, who served as the deputy director general of the department of West Asian and African Affairs in the ministry of Commerce of China, told African journalists who visited the Asian nation in 2015 that his country had selected Tanzania as a pilot country for its China-Africa economic cooperation along with Kenya and Ethiopia.

Tanzania in the same year announced that over 100 Chinese investors had shown interest in establishing businesses in the country as part of a five-year programme backed by the China Africa Development Fund (CADFund). Mr Mwambe concurred with Mr Kairuki, saying promotional efforts by the TIC may also have had an impact.

“We conducted several exhibitions in China aimed at attracting the Chinese business community to come and invest in Tanzania. Our commitment to provide requisite incentives to foreign investors has helped to attract many investors,” he said.

Why China has become leading foreign investor in Tanzania

pingli-nywee said:

Mzee, kwenye awamu hii ya jiwe Kenya imefaidi kibiashara sio mchezo. Pata uhondo kidogo kutoka kwa TRA yenu, takwimu za 2020. >>>Tanzania trade with Kenya turns into deficit Kumbuka pia kwamba Kenya ndio nchi inayoshikilia nafasi ya pili kwa uwekezaji nchini Tz, baada ya UK. Kampuni za Kenya zinatoa ajira kwa wingi nchini Tz na zinashikilia % kubwa ya uchumi wenu, tena sanasana kwenye sekta nyeti ya fedha. Hayo yote hayajabadilika licha ya wivu na chuki za mzee wenu hapo ikulu. Nashangaa hata kwenye ule ubabe wenu feki wa kupiga ban KQ mliachia na bado mkatoka kapa, maanake hadi leo hii ATCL haitui Kenya. Hamna strategy zozote za maana na zinazoshirikisha ubongo kibiashara dhidi ya Kenya. Magu tano tena!

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wacha kujifariji na maneno matupu. Kila mkenya anafahumu Uchumi upo ICU

Mkikuyu- Akili timamu said:

wacha kujifariji na maneno matupu. Kila mkenya anafahumu Uchumi upo ICU

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Ukimuuliza kampuni zipi hizo toka Kunyaland zime-invest Tanzania atakutajia loss making Uchumi, KQ, Deacons, Nakumatt n a dutch owned Unilever Kenya!

Geza Ulole said:

wacha upumbavu Kenya si namba ya pili kwa uwekezaji Tanzania! $35 mln of a surplus is peanut! Kunyaland hiihii tunayoilisha iwe 2nd investor kwa Tanzania?

Why China has become leading foreign investor in Tanzania


THURSDAY MAY 16 2019

TIC executive director Geoffrey Mwambe. Photo |File
By John Namkwahe @johnteck3 jnamkwahe@tz.nationmedia.com

Dar es Salaam. China has leapfrogged its Western peers to become the largest foreign investor in Tanzania, thanks to the aggressiveness of its people in searching for new markets outside the world’s most populous country.

Eight years ago, China was sixth among countries with the largest investments in Tanzania behind the UK, the US, South Africa and Kenya.

But latest figures by the Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) show that China had moved into second place in 2012 before taking the top slot a few years ago.

Cumulative figures for the period between 1990 and 2017 show that China is leading with investments worth $5.963 billion.
The UK came second with investments valued at $5.54 billion while the US, Mauritius and India completed the top five list with investments worth $4.7 billion, $4.308 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively.

TIC executive director Geoffrey Mwambe told The Citizen that the trend explains a tendency by Chinese nationals to aggressively look for new investment opportunities outside their country.


“The Chinese have a tendency to invest in diverse sectors. They are in infrastructure development, agriculture, manufacturing and even the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), among other sectors,” he said.

In a speech delivered in November 2012 in Dar es Salaam during the inauguration of the construction of the $1.225 billion natural gas pipeline project, the former Chinese ambassador to Tanzania, Dr Lu Youqing, said Tanzania remains one of the key focus areas for the Asian nation. Available data show that in 2014 alone, Tanzania accounted for 16.3 per cent of China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) to Africa.

Tanzania’s ambassador to China, Mr Mbelwa Kairuki, said a number of promotional initiatives have been conducted by the East African nation in the world’s second largest economy during the past few years.

“It’s been hectic during the past years,” he said, detailing a number of meetings that took place in the last few years.

Mr Kairuki, who has been Tanzania’s ambassador to China since 2016, said in conjunction with TIC, the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA), members of the business community in Tanzania as well as with past and present top government leaders in both countries, a lot of work had been done with regard to promoting Tanzania in China as a preferred investment destination.

These initiatives could have been boosted further by those which focus primarily on Tanzania and other East African nations for China’s Africa economic strategy.

A Chinese official, Mr Cao Jiachang, who served as the deputy director general of the department of West Asian and African Affairs in the ministry of Commerce of China, told African journalists who visited the Asian nation in 2015 that his country had selected Tanzania as a pilot country for its China-Africa economic cooperation along with Kenya and Ethiopia.

Tanzania in the same year announced that over 100 Chinese investors had shown interest in establishing businesses in the country as part of a five-year programme backed by the China Africa Development Fund (CADFund). Mr Mwambe concurred with Mr Kairuki, saying promotional efforts by the TIC may also have had an impact.

“We conducted several exhibitions in China aimed at attracting the Chinese business community to come and invest in Tanzania. Our commitment to provide requisite incentives to foreign investors has helped to attract many investors,” he said.

Why China has become leading foreign investor in Tanzania

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Yaani Hawa wakenya no wa ajabu Sana,Wana mawazo kizamani bado kwamba wao wanaongoza kwa kila kitu,mfano huyu pimbi.umemjibu vizuri Sana.

Ntaghacha said:

Yaani Hawa wakenya no wa ajabu Sana,Wana mawazo kizamani bado kwamba wao wanaongoza kwa kila kitu,mfano huyu pimbi.umemjibu vizuri Sana.

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Endelea kujiliwaza kwasababu labda kiingereza kinakupiga chenga. Tafuta mtu akutafsirie sentensi hii kutoka kwenye taarifa yake hiyo. ..."China
was sixth among countries
with the largest
investments in Tanzania
behind the UK, the US,
South Africa and Kenya"... Nchi ya Kenya imekuwa/ni primary investor nchini Tz. Can the same be said about Tz, likija kwenye suala la uwekezaji na uchumi wa Kenya? Ila nimependa alivozipuuza hizo taarifa za TRA kuhusu deficit ya Tanzania kwenye biashara kati ya Kenya-Tz. 😉

Geza Ulole said:

Ukimuuliza kampuni zipi hizo toka Kunyaland zime-invest Tanzania atakutajia loss making Uchumi, KQ, Deacons, Nakumatt n a dutch owned Unilever Kenya!

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Equity Bank, KCB, NIC Bank, DTB?

pingli-nywee said:

Equity Bank, KCB, NIC Bank, DTB?

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DTB is not Kunyan but Aga Khan owned and the rest control less than 3% of overall banking in Tanzania none has made a profit of over 1%!

pingli-nywee said:

..."Kenya seems to be taking all this it in
its stride"... Well said, Kenya ipo focused na sio kwenye vitu vya kipumbavu kama malumbano ya kitoto. Tangia mzee wenu wa mikwara hapo ikulu afanye ule uhuni wa kutia kiberiti vifanga kutoka Kenya Tz hamjafaidi kwa njia yeyote, iwe kibiashara, kimaendeleo au kiuchumi kwa ujumla. Ila kwa muda huo Tz mmevunja rekodi ya miaka sita ya kununua bidhaa nyingi kutoka Kenya. Kenya imezidi kupanua 'deficit' ya kibiashara, ambapo Tz inanua bidhaa nyingi zaidi ya inazouzia Kenya. Shughuli bandarini Mombasa zimeendelea kunawiri, huku mizigo inayoagizwa na watz kupitia bandari hiyo ikiongezeka kwa 47%. Kampuni za Kenya zimeendelea kutanua misuli ukanda huu na benki za Kenya zimeendelea kufanya vizuri nchini Tz. Gap ya kiuchumi kati ya Kenya na Tz imeendelea kupanuka, n.k, n.k. Nawapa pongezi rais U.Kenyatta na balozi Dan Kazungu kwa 'response' yao, 'strategy' zao na uvumilivu wao. Biashara kwanza na ubabe bila misheni za hela ni sifa za kijinga.

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Itakuwaje tukiamua kufunga baadhi ya makampuni yenu hapa kwetu au tukiamua kutoagiza baadhi ya bidhaa kutoka kwenu....hivi unadhani China huwa inaitambia Marekani au nchi yoyote ile kuwa sisi wachina tunaendelea kufaidi na kuimarisha misuli kwenye biashara?? Stupid....reserve your words...be humble...

pingli-nywee said:

Endelea kujiliwaza kwasababu labda kiingereza kinakupiga chenga. Tafuta mtu akutafsirie sentensi hii kutoka kwenye taarifa yake hiyo. ..."China
was sixth among countries
with the largest
investments in Tanzania
behind the UK, the US,
South Africa and Kenya"... Nchi ya Kenya imekuwa/ni primary investor nchini Tz. Can the same be said about Tz, likija kwenye suala la uwekezaji na uchumi wa Kenya? Ila nimependa alivozipuuza hizo taarifa za TRA kuhusu deficit ya Tanzania kwenye biashara kati ya Kenya-Tz. [emoji6]

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Actually hiyo ndio inaitwa "FDI", hiyo ni faida kwa Tanzania, kila nchi inapigania kuvutia wawekezaji nchini mwake bila kujali wanatoka nchi gani.

USA imeanzisha kampeni ya kuyapunguzia kodi makampuni yao ili yabaki kuwekeza USA yasiende China ili kutengeneza ajira, ninawashangaa wakenya wanaofurahia makampuni yao kuja kuwekeza Tanzania wakati tatizo la ajira linazidi kuongezeka Kenya, hizo ndio zinaitwa kutafuta sifa bila kutumia akili.