Beyond megapix

Commonwealth Games 2014

The XX Commonwealth games took place in Glasgow, Scotland from the 23 rd of July to the 3rd of August 2014. The games were held in a indeed friendly atmosphere and Glasgow show its best face by being very welcoming and friendly.

Tanzania was represented by a contingent of 37 athletes in the fields of athletics, Judo, wrestling, cycling, swimming, table tennis and weight lifting.

Though the team did not do well, by not winning any medals, but some athletics scored above their best previous level.

What is however apparent, many of us who watch from the sides do not seem to accept or realise that sports, whether at the Commonwealth games, Olympics or any other games, is no longer an performed at a amateur level. It has become a very professionally performed as an "Elite sports" backed by huge state or private funding.

Unless all of us do not put our heads together to find sources of funding "elite sports" in our countries, success will definitely continue to elude us.

Irish national commemoration day

On Sunday 13th of July 2014, as Tanzania's Ambassador to Ireland, I had the privilege to attend the Irish National Day of Commemoration. This is a day when the Irish nation remembers all those Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations. The Solemn ceremony is attended by the President, The Taoiseach (PM), members of Government & Diplomatic corps and other senior representatives.

Its a ceremony I enjoy attended every years as Ireland has a long history of struggling for its Independence and justice in the world. Moreover Ireland is a great friend to Tanzania and we have long historic links. Mwalimu Nyerere is well respected in Dublin. Its a relation that we need to deepen and cherish.

President Michael Higgins attending the commemoration

Members of the public and former soldiers

The Irish Armed forces

Marching in

Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassadors of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania

Other members of the Dip. Corps before the commencement of the commemoration

The Ambassador of Bahrain and Joyce, the spouse of Tanzania High Commissioner

The spouses of Honduras and Tanzania

The Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon. Charles Flanagan, speaks to members of the Diplomatic corps

The Dean of the diplomatic corp, Papa Nucio, responding to the Minister's statement.

UK Minister for Africa urges British companies to invest in Africa.

The former UK Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, invited the High Commissioners for Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique, three priority countries of the UK, to accompany him on a tour of North England to send out the message that Africa was indeed ready for business.

Unfortunately Minister Mark Simmonds resigned from his post in July due to family reasons. We will miss him.

Minister Simmonds explaining improved business and investment opportunities existing in Africa

Expanding on a point on investment opportunities in Tanzania and EAC

Potential investors had time to ask hard questions too

Dar es salaam the new investment destination

Tanzania very much at the center of the new British investment drive in Africa

Responding to questions and inquiries from potential investors

Personally feel a lot of satisfaction that Tanzania- UK relationship slowly transforming into business and investment centred

A number of companies showed serious interest to explore the possibilities

I was accompanied by my officer, Allen Kuzilwa, who wishes was in San Paulo

Makutano in Edinburgh

From Glasgow, I was invited to Edinburgh to participate in a event involving young Tanzanians and Scottish youth pledging to work together for the betterment of the world. The event termed "Makutano" a place where we all meet. For more see; http://twendepamoja.org.uk/hand-in-hand/ . The show was brilliant and the young Tanzanians made me proud being their representative.

The full group

Wonderful performance by the group

The whole group of young performers

Celebrating youth and meeting future challenges with confidence

Glasgow visit - May 2014

In May 2014 members of the diplomatic community in London were in invited to Glasgow, Scotland to have a last minute inspection of the venues of the Commonwealth games. I also seized the occasion to meet with Tanzanians living and working there.

Sites and pictures from that visit

Diplomats inspecting venues

The velodrome

The Scottish women's hockey team practicing for the games

HQ of the famous Celtic football club

Inside the Glasgow Chamber of Commerces building

A beautiful building used for ceremonies

The chair person of Tanzanians living in Glasgow giving a word of introductions

Listen to Tanzanians views on various issues and weighting out my response

A group pictures with Tanzanians

Visits to Eton college - a premier boy's college

Eton College, often informally referred to as Eton, is an English independent boarding school. It educates over 1,300 pupils, aged between 13 and 18 years and was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, as a charity school to provide free education to seventy poor boys who would then go on to King's College, Cambridge,

Eton is one of nine English independent schools, commonly referred to as "public schools", included in the original Public Schools Act 1868. Eton is a full boarding school, which is one of four such remaining single-sex boys' public schools in the United Kingdom (the others being Harrow School, Radley College and Winchester College) to continue this practice.

It has educated 19 British Prime Ministers and generations of aristocracy, and has been referred to as the chief nurse of England's statesmen. Eton has a long list of distinguished former pupils. David Cameron is the nineteenth British Prime Minister to have attended Eton.

The above quote is from the Eton College Wikipedia page

On two occasions I was privileged to visit the college. This was possible due to an invitation by a parent of a student and a friend tutor who visited Tanzania as part of a tour of students to Arusha in January 2014.

Here are some pictures from those visits.