Tanzania, Burundi, DRC meet

President Jakaya Kikwete has said Tanzania will not quit the East African Community. PHOTO|FILE 

By BONIFACE MEENA

Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have initiated agreements on economic co-operation. This follows Tanzania and Burundi’s isolation by their East African Community (EAC) partners Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in the so called “Coalition of the Willing”.

Representatives of the three countries met in Bujumbura on Wednesday as a follow-through to an earlier promise made by a Tanzanian minister on the country’s intention to cooperate with Burundi and DR Congo.

The Tanzanian minister for East African Cooperation Samuel Sitta said the three countries have agreed to jointly develop road, rail, air and water transportation infrastructure.

He said the meeting focused on improving transport infrastructure in Lake Tanganyika, which joins Tanzania, Burundi, DRC and Zambia.

“We also plan to develop Uvinza railway line from the area to Msongati Tanzania, Burundi and also connecting roads Manyoni- Tabora- igoma via Bujumbura to South Kivu, DRC,” said Mr Sitta.

The meeting was attended by Mr Sitta, Burundi’s minister for East African Co-operation Leontine Nzeyimana and the DRC Minister of Transport, Jack Lukeba.

Mr Sitta said Tanzania is addressing the possibility of starting flights from Dar to Bujumbura.