Tanzanian leader asks Kenya to join pandemic fight

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday stressed the importance of cooperation with her country's neighbours and the global community in the fight against COVID-19, during a speech to the Kenyan parliament.

Hassan addressed a special joint sitting of the Kenyan National Assembly and Senate as part of a two-day state visit to the country.

Tanzania is "not an island" Hassan told lawmakers, as she said her government would take "all precautions" in the fight against the pandemic, including restricting travel in areas of high prevelance of the virus.

A team of experts from both countries will coordinate enforcement of cross-border COVID-19 containment protocols, one of the most pronounced non-tariff trade barriers between the countries, according to a statement from Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's communications office.

The speech from Hassan and agreement on travel measures are a signifanct departure from the policies of Tanzania's previous leader, John Magufuli, who was amongst the world's most prominent deniers of COVID-19.

Hassan was Tanzania's vice president and became the country's first woman president following the death of Magufuli in March.

Magufuli’s COVID-19 denial prompted Kenya to close its border with Tanzania in May last year except for cargo traffic. Kenya imposed stringent testing measures on Tanzanian truck drivers after more than 50 of them tested positive for the virus in a single day.

Tanzania reciprocated by banning all Kenyan trucks from entering the country. The border issue ended after Magufuli and Kenyatta held a phone conversation.