Prime Minister Michael Manley and Tanzanian President Julius K. Nyerere discussed a wide range of international and bilateral issues during the president’s official visit to Jamaica. The leaders explored developments in Portuguese colonial territories, supported African liberation movements, and reaffirmed opposition to apartheid in South Africa. They also exchanged views on economic cooperation, promoting unity among developing countries, and signed an agreement for technical and cultural collaboration.

Published Thursday, September 19, 1974

Joint communique at end of visit 

Manley, Nyerere discuss worldwide issues

PM, wife going to Tanzania 

A record number of international and bilateral issues were discussed by the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon Michael Manley, and President Julius K. Nyerere of Tanzania, during the president’s official visit to Jamaica, which concluded yesterday.

A joint communiqué issued on behalf of both governments at the conclusion of the visit noted that the two leaders examined the international situation, with special attention to colonialism and racism in South Africa. They particularly hailed the Lusaka agreement between FRELIMO and the Portuguese Government, which set a timetable for the transfer of power to the people of Mozambique under FRELIMO and established a date for the country’s independence.
The leaders also looked forward to early negotiations with the Portuguese Government leading to full independence for Angola, and expressed their belief that the decolonisation of Portuguese territories would support the liberation struggles in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Economic situation
Regarding the international economic situation, both leaders reaffirmed the importance of a united front among developing countries to achieve an equitable international order. They welcomed the solidarity displayed by the ACP countries in recent negotiations in Kingston with the EEC countries.

The leaders, along with their ministers and officials, exchanged views on ways to promote bilateral ties between Jamaica and Tanzania. Specific areas of concrete cooperation were identified, culminating in the signing of an agreement for technical and cultural cooperation.
At the conclusion of his visit, President Nyerere and his delegation expressed “profound appreciation and gratitude” to the Government and people of Jamaica for “the warm and brotherly reception accorded to them, and for the opportunity to witness the progress and achievements of the Jamaican people”.

President Nyerere extended an invitation to Prime Minister Manley and Mrs Manley to visit Tanzania, which the prime minister accepted with pleasure. The date of the visit will be arranged through normal diplomatic channels.

The communiqué reported that the Tanzanian delegation received “a very warm and fraternal welcome by the people and Government of Jamaica” and detailed the activities undertaken during the president’s four-day stay, which began on Saturday.

During talks at Jamaica House on Tuesday, the leaders reviewed the latest developments in Portuguese colonial territories, welcomed Guinea-Bissau’s admission to the United Nations as a victory of its armed struggle for independence, and anticipated the early liberation of the Cape Verde Islands.

They pledged to cooperate with other freedom-loving forces to assist in the implementation of the Lusaka agreement and support FRELIMO during Mozambique’s transitional government period and after independence.

The leaders welcomed the readiness of national liberation movements in Angola to form a United Front and looked forward to early negotiations with Portugal for Angola’s independence. They affirmed that the decolonisation of Portuguese territories would support liberation movements in Zimbabwe and Namibia, pledging increased assistance.

Both governments reiterated total opposition to apartheid in South Africa, called for its international isolation, and expressed solidarity with South Africans in their struggle for freedom and human dignity.

On economic issues, they expressed concern about deteriorating trade relations between developed and developing countries, and stressed the need for immediate corrective action. They reaffirmed the importance of unity among developing countries to achieve a fair international economic order, and welcomed the ACP countries’ recent solidarity in Kingston negotiations with the EEC.

During the visit, both sides exchanged views on promoting bilateral ties, identified areas of concrete cooperation, and signed a technical and cultural cooperation agreement, agreeing to further delegation exchanges to implement it.

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