Tanzania and Kenya have agreed to reinforce their cooperation in the fight against crimes, exchange of fugitives and protection of natural ressources for the two countries to prosper.
President John Magufuli and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta reached the consensus during their telephone conversations the day before during the handover of 35.34 kilogrammes of gold by a Kenyan delegation.
The gold consignment was intercepted at Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in February 2018. Besides the gold, President Magufuli also received money, including 170m/-, 76,500 US dollars (over 175m/-) and 171,600 Kenyan shillings, which was robbed at NBC Mwanga branch in 2004.
According to President Magufuli, the resolve to return the assets back into the country was reached when the two Heads of State met in Chato, recently.
Upon receipt of gold and money - both being proceeds of crime - President Magufuli called his Kenyan counterpart to express his deepest appreciation for this integrity and patriotism.
He warned all criminals bent on committing offenses in either of the two countries, saying they will be extradited without hesitation. "If you commit an offense in Kenya and later escape to Tanzania, you will be dealt with accordingly and vice versa.
There is no room for people who abuse the rights of other people in our countries," stressed President Magufuli.
Speaking over the phone, the President Uhuru plegded to stand firm to ensure that resources of the two countires benefit all people. By so doing, noted President Kenyatt, the two countries will ably construct good schools, hospitals and deliver other basic services.
"We do not have boundaries in fighting crimes in the two countries, we will continue to embrace the good relations in bringing our people out of poverty," he stressed.
However, President Magufuli raised concern over the failure by security organs to tame criminalities, saying offences were continually committed in the country.
Much as the security forces work hard, Dr. Magufuli said something is wrong somewhere and challenged Inspector General of Police (IGP) Simon Sirro to act tough to ensure all wrongs were immediately addressed.
He further noted that Africa was blessed with vast natural ressources - minerals, water bodies and forests among others - but the continent is not benefiting from the riches due to exploitation and smuggling.
In dealing with the challenges, he said Tanzania has taken sweeping measures, including banning exports of mineral concentrates, strengthtening security at the country's ports and borders and establishing mineral centres and markets, among other initiatives.
"After embarking on all the measures, the county had in the 2017/18 fiscal year targeted 191bn/- revenues from minerals but collected 301bn/-, an increase of 110bn/-.
In the 2018/19 financial year, the target was to collect 310bn/- but 335bn/- was garnered. The 2019/20 fiscal year target is 470bn/-," he said.
President Magufuli also hinted that other areas that he had discussed with President Kenyatta as the plan to start procuring gas and maize floor from Tanzania.
Besides the delegation that handed over the seized minerals, the Kenyan leader had also sent in representatives to deliberate on the gas and maize deals.