{UAH} Pojim/WBK: EDITORIAL: Vans, flights ‘war’ is over; It shouldn’t happen again! - Opinion/Editorial - thecitizen.co.tz

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/oped/EDITORIAL--Vans--flights--war--is-over--It-shouldn-t-happe/-/1840568/2664144/-/jggqqp/-/index.html

EDITORIAL: Vans, flights 'war' is over; It shouldn't happen again! - Opinion/Editorial

At last, the trade dispute between Tanzania and Kenya ended amicably on Saturday after presidents Jakaya Kikwete and Uhuru Kenyatta met and discussed the issue thoroughly.

The now-ended row was traceable to the decision by Kenya to ban Tanzania-registered tourist vans from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Following the two leaders meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, Tanzanian tourist vans will have, as before, unrestricted access to JKIA effective last Sunday.

Under the agreement, Kenya Airways (KQ) resumes flying to Tanzania 42 times a week, nullifying the earlier directive by Dar es Salaam aviation authorities that had cut the number to 14 last week in what was widely seen as a retaliatory move.

However, even as we applaud the resumption of cordial trade relations, we hasten to query over why the matter came about in the first place. Kenya and Tanzania are geographical neighbours, founder members of the East African Community (EAC). They just have to be cordial to one another.

Kenya is presently one of the Top 5 leading investors in Tanzania and shutting out one another lacks credence. It means the just-ended dispute shouldn't have been there in the first place.  There are questions like: what was Kenya losing by allowing Tanzania registered tourist vans to JKIA? And, if Tanzania allowed KQ to operate 42 flights a week, three times higher than the internationally set number, why was it difficult for Kenya to let in to JKIA tourist vans from its southern neighbour?

There are those who will argue that Dar es Salaam allowed KQ 42 flights because Tanzania doesn't have a functioning national airline, but the truth is, the decision was based on mutual trust and goodwill between the two EAC partners. And Tanzania, naturally, expected an amiably reciprocal treatment.

In any form of relations, be it business or personal, it is, yes, about give-and-take.

EDITORIAL: Vans, flights 'war' is over; It shouldn't happen again! - Opinion/Editorial - thecitizen.co.tz

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/oped/EDITORIAL--Vans--flights--war--is-over--It-shouldn-t-happe/-/1840568/2664144/-/jggqqp/-/index.html

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