Mugabe to attend Kikwete's swearing in ceromony

Five leaders for JK swearing –in ceremony
Saturday, 06 November 2010 09:36
By Florence Mugarula, The Citizen Reporter

Dar es Salaam: Five heads of state are among dignitaries who will attend today’s ceremony to witness the swearing in of president-elect Jakaya Kikwete for his second and last five-year term in office.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation information officer, Mr Assah Mwambene, told The Citizen that his office has already received attendance confirmation from five countries.

Among African leaders expected to attend the ceremony at the Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam are:

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Zambian President Rupiah Banda and Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila.

Others are South African President Jacob Zuma and Kenya President Mwai Kibaki. Uganda will be represented by the first deputy Prime Minister, Mr Eriya Kategaya, Rwanda by Prime Minister Bernard Makuza and Mozambique by Prime Minister Aires Aly.

Also Burundi will be represented by vice president George Kunda, Namibia by deputy Prime Minister Marco Hausiku while Swaziland will send the deputy Prime Minister, Mr Themba Masuku.

The Malawi speaker, Mr Henry Chimunthu and representatives from the African Union (AU), Egypt and Algeria are also expected to attend.

The ceremony will also be graced by Dr Ali Mohamed Shein who will attend for the first time as a President of Zanzibar. Dr Shein was President Kikwete’s vice president before winning the Isle’s presidency.

Ambassadors and representatives of the international community are also expected to be present.

Meanwhile, preparations continued in various parts of Dar es Salaam yesterday. At the Uhuru stadium, soldiers, police personnel and prison warders continued with final parade rehersals for today’s ceremony.

After being sworn in, the President will inspect a guard of honor that will be mounted by the Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF), Police force and Prison warders.