Tanzania has attacked Kenya for trying to sabotage their tourism industry.
Tension between the two East African giants emerged a week ago when President John Pombe Magufuli slammed the down on Kenyan trucks at the Namanga border.
A press release signed by regional commissioner Arusha Mrisha Mashaka Gambo, partly read: “We have deliberately taken the decision in order to protect our citizens against Covid-19 infections from the neighbouring country as well as making sure our general population stand in good health as we prepare to receive tourists when the high tourism season re-opens come this June.”
The commissioner questioned: “In efforts to confirm reliability of Covid-19 test results, we took samples from 19 drivers from Tanzania who had tested and declared positive by Kenya authorities at Namanga border on Kenyan side.”
Mrisha explained: “All these samples were submitted to our Main National Laboratory in Dar es Salaam, the results came back as negative for all these drivers from Tanzania.”
He accused Kenya: “Arusha region is confident this is a deliberate sabotage strategy by Kenya against our tourism industry in Arusha and Tanzania at large.”
Mrisha stated: “Apparently, all drivers determined to be positive are not allowed to either cross the border into Tanzania or enter Kenya.”
He tipped: “Arusha region will continue to take all necessary precautions to prevent any potential waive of Covid-19 infections that might cross into our country from Namanga border along neighbouring Kenya.”
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
