VZCZCXRO9429
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO
DE RUEHMR #0190 1101541
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201541Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2004
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0009
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2271

UNCLAS MASERU 000190 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
RANGOON FOR PATRICK MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL TZ LT
SUBJECT: TANZANIAN PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO LESOTHO 
 
 
¶1.      The  newly elected President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, 
made an official visit to Lesotho from April 19 to 20, 2006. 
During his two-day visit, President Kikwete had an audience with 
His Majesty King Letsie III, and also held talks with Prime 
Minister Mosisili. 
 
¶2.       King Letsie III hosted a banquet in honor of the 
President. In his speech at the banquet, King Letsie expressed 
hope that the long established cordial relations between Lesotho 
and Tanzania be enhanced through future economic and political 
cooperation. Speaking at the same occasion, President Kikwete 
stated that the two countries have common history and 
cooperation established during the reign of the late King 
Moshoeshoe II and former late President Julius Nyerere. He 
assured both Basotho and Tanzanians that he will further 
strengthen the existing cordial relations and indicated that he 
has already identified strategies, which include unspecified 
trade exchanges between Lesotho and Tanzania. 
 
¶3.      His visit to Lesotho is part of a regional tour meant to 
familiarize and introduce him to the heads of state and 
government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) 
region. Kikwete was elected President on December 21,  2005, 
after he won 80% victory in the presidential elections. He 
succeeds Benjamin Mkapa who visited Lesotho in September 2005. 
Tanzania is viewed as a supporter of Lesotho during the 
apartheid era and this visit, according to senior GOL 
authorities, was essentially one of courtesy to thank the GOT 
for its role in southern Africa's liberation struggles. 
 
PERRY