visit to Cambridge university

Cambridge, one of the world's oldest universities, established in 1209 by former Oxford scholars taking refugee from riots with the townsfolk. At Oxford, teaching has existed as early as 1096, but grew rapidly in the 1100's. Today Cambridge is a leading international academic community, and boasts to be in the list of top 10 universities in the world.

The visit was extreme enlightening, and enjoyed tremendously visiting the surrounding and taking in the traditions of elite education and strict adherence to education discipline.  I was introduced to the fact that the university is organised around 31 autonomous colleges, where students live, socialise and inducted to worldly skills. The colleges are independent, highly respectable and provide close supervisions to the students during their time there. The colleges are very competitive and have long and proud histories. Renowned colleges include King's college, Trinity and St. John's. We had a fabulous  tour of St. John's college.

I am pleased to note that there are currently 4 Tanzanians studying at Cambridge. Three female and one male. There is Johanna Riha, a Phd student, on a Gates scholarship studying public health. Dolores Tesh, doing a Master of Finance degree. Judith Ruzangi doing Natural sciences and George Mgomella reading at Phd level the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus in Africa.

What I gathered from the tour was that this is a very competitive school only taking the best brains in the world. The lesson one draws would perhaps be, how do we in Tanzania and Africa in general build such institutions for our youth, while motiving and instilling in them the seeds of the pursuit of excellence in their endeavours.

Johanna giving me a tour of st. John's college

discussing the merits of studying at such an elite university

Dolores was country treasurer for Barclays Bank in Tanzania

A structure depicting cambridge

inside st. John's church 

this is where the students live and study

wonderful and historical surroundings

beautiful sceneries

with Johanna and Dolores

The previous evening attended the "Africa together "event  with participants from all over the continent and beyond

Privileged to have meet and exchanged views with Mr. Amadou Mahtar Ba, Chief executive of the African mdeia initiative (AMI) and chairman of http://allafrica.com

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

I was delighted to have been offered an opportunity to attend this year's RHS prestigious Chelsea Flower show 2014. The flower show is a five days event where members of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) globally display their outstanding gardens and lovely devotion to flowers. The show attracts visitors from all over the world and is usually graced by the visit of HM The Queen and other members of the Royal family.

I was invited by Bechtel company that was sponsoring one of the gardens, " No Man's land". The garden represents the landscape of World war One, timed to mark its centenary this year.

I took a few pictures of the amazing display of flowers

Meetings at the Mission

It was a pleasure to receive a good and old friend, Rupin Rajani. We have know each other for some time, both in my professional life, when I was an assistant to the President and he was an active member of the Tanzania National  Business council. Personally I knew and respect his late father, Mzee Jayantlal Rajani, who sadly passed away in London in 2012. I was privileged to attend a moving ceremony in London in his honour. We caught up on many things in our discussions. We even discussion was of attracting scholarships for Tanzanians to study in the UK and other places. See my page on LSE.

welcoming an old friend to the mission

Later in the day had a  lively and useful meeting with a delegation from the Ministry of Transport and SUMATRA, currently in London attending an International Maritime organisation conference (IMO). Discussed how to enhance Tanzania's maritime interest in the organisation and globally. The mission in London also represents the country to IMO 

Courtesy call by the new Burundi Ambassador to the United Kingdom

The new Burundi Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Deo Sindayihebura, was kind enough to select Tanzania mission in London as one of his first stop to pay courtesy calls on. Courtesy calls, by newly arrived envoys, is a customary diplomatic practice whereby one introduces him/herself to colleagues. At these meetings the new Ambassador seeks counsel on life in the capital and gets important tips from older colleagues.

Usually one begins with envoys from neighbouring countries and moves on from there to other continental colleague.

It was gratifying to know that the new Ambassador was till 2011, deputy Head of mission in Dar es salaam and, as with many other diplomats having served in Dar, recall their tour of duty in Tanzania with a lot of fondness. The warmth of  the Tanzanian people and country and the simplicity of meeting with our various leaders makes Dar a very enjoyable diplomatic post for many foreign diplomats. By the way this is true for African and non African diplomats that I have meet over the years

Indeed Dar es salaam is highly regarded as a diplomatic post for many countries, and having served in Tanzania one is on a fast track to a higher positions.

In fact, the currently Ambassador from Guinea in London studied at the Centre for Foreign relations at Kurasini. The Ambassador of Algeria and the former High Commissioner of Zambia to the UK both served as Ambassador to Tanzania.

Welcoming the new Ambassador of Burundi in London, " karibu Balozi"

We are brothers in the East African community

we exchange cards and telephone numbers

The new Balozi recalls fondly his time in Dar.

Meeting at London School of Economics

The High Commissioners of Mauritius, Mozambique and Tanzania today had a very exciting and useful meeting at the renowned London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The school is one of the foremost social science universities in the world. The schools's motto is rerum cognoscrere causes, which means to know the cause of things.

I seem to like that motto, as it represents the essence of the pursuit of knowledge in my mind. It very much reflects my own personal incentive for education.

LSE has had long links with Africa, trained many of its leaders and human resources. This was supported by scholarships from the commonwealth and other educational funds, many of these funds have since disappeared.

The meetings was attended at a very senior level by Prof. Craig Calhoun, Director and President of LSE, Prof. Stuart Corbridge, Deputy Director and Provost of LSE, Prof. Jonathan Leape, Director of the International Growth Centre and Mr. Mark Maloney, Head of Academic Partnerships

The discussions today was how we can create new initiatives to train young Africans, including Tanzanians at the LSE, with funds from the private sector. We intend to organise a conference to mobilise funds to this end.

I am excited about the project and will work hard to make it happen. We need to assist more Tanzanians gain access to this prestigious school.

Future of the commonwealth

On Tuesday, 20th May,  I together with a few other High Commissioners, have been invited to attend a discussions on how we see the future of the Commonwealth, as an organisation. It seems members have grown apart and the successful setting up of regional organisations have help drift countries away. Africans are closer to the AU, as Europeans are to the EU. Caribbean see themselves very much as CARICOM and the same is with pacific countries. The things that brought as together have all but disappeared. There was a time when we did not need visas to travel among our countries, there were educational funds for our youths and the British council was strong. The current situation is very different. 

So the question is, is there any role for the organisation in the future? If yes what is it? Or are its members too far apart in really forging a common future?

let me know your thoughts.

At the Golden Jubilee of HM The Queen in 2012

Arsenal FA cup victory parade

Today London witnesses Arsenal's FA cup victory parade. A customary parade by the winning team. A befitting celebratory moment for Arsenal after nine years without any trophy. It is a deserving victory for a club that has a huge following, not only world wide, but especially in Africa, and closer to me, Tanzania. Football is truly a religion here in the UK. As a High Commissioner I have found myself needing to know and follow the football games. I now have fully embraced the cult, but enjoy understanding the changes of managership and the business side of  football. 

I did not go to the parade, but was happily inform that there were loads of people from all walks of life celebrating this happy occasion. My source said, they were people dripping tears, some even came out of hospitals to enjoy the atmosphere. They waited for too long for this moment.

I guess the lesson for Tanzania is that sports and football is important in the life of humans. Sports is a very useful tool in bring a nation together.

I thank Israel Saria for these pictures.