Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli was again missing in Tuesday's meeting summoned by the East African Community Heads of State Members.
Tanzania has been secretive about its number of #covid_19 cases even as reports of dozens of #coronavirus victims being buried secretively at night spread through the regional media.
Magufuli was a no show at the very first virtual meeting last week on Tuesday that was graced by all East Africa Heads of State.
His continued absence has raised eyebrows among the leaders and citizens of East Africa Community questioning his country's continued alienation and its relaxed pandemic response.
Tanzania's Foreign Affairs Minister, Prof Palamagamba John Aidan Mwaluko Kabudi on Monday announced that the country will not participate in this week's joint meeting of ministers for Health, Transport and EAC affairs on COVID-19 response.
The objective of the three-day meeting is to plan and effect resolutions reached by the heads of state on May 12th.
The Heads of State agreed to prioritise the implementation of measures that will ensure first and foremost the uninterrupted cross-border movement of goods even as the region continues to battle the Coronavirus outbreak.
Secondly; to ramp-up border screening and testing especially for truck drivers, their contacts, isolation and prompt treatment of positive cases.
Col Wilbert Ibuge, the Permanent Secretary for Tanzania's Foreign Affairs Ministry argued that President Magufuli was left out of the previous Heads of State meeting and there was no need for active engagement.
"We would like to put on record that (Tanzania) was not part of a meeting of Heads of State which made such directives, and as such to our knowledge no records exist to allow for a collective consideration by partner states." Mr Ibuge claimed.
Be that as it may, a joint communique on the resolutions and directives was agreed upon by partner states and publicized.
The guidelines detailed the creation of a joint team of experts from all member states to conduct Coronavirus tests at points of departure and entry for the truckers.
President Uhuru Kenyata emphasized a unified stand to combat the epidemic in the region.
"We continue to actively enforce contact tracing which has proved to be very effective in identifying those who have come into contact with infected persons,” he said.
The leaders acknowledged the slowdown caused by the global pandemic on the region’s key economic sectors and urged member states to prioritize investment in agricultural production.
Agro-processing and value addition were also highlighted as import substitutes since global trade is currently suppressed by the public health crisis.
Tanzania's mild response to the spread of Coronavirus is seen as the greatest threat to East Africa livelihoods.
Experts believe Tanzania is not doing enough and their refusal to participate in regional meetings will derail any successes gained by her neighbours.
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