This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
On August 1, 2020, commercial flights resumed in Kenya following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions. However, the Kenyan government decided against including Tanzania in the list of countries whose passengers would be allowed to enter the country, reciprocating Tanzania's earlier decision.
As two nations in the same bloc, Kenya and Tanzania share a lot in common, from culture to trade traits. Their co-existence is built on mutual benefits, which are now being disrupted by the recent decision.
Speaking to the Sunday News, Professor Honest Ngowi, a professor of economics at Mzumbe University, emphasized the importance of holding talks to resolve the matter. 'Let the two sides sit together and see the way forward to resolve the row as the decision made by both sides has no winner but losers.'
According to Professor Ngowi, the two countries can benefit from reviving their economies during the post-Covid-19 period. 'When the planes land, they pay landing fees, businessmen travel, people go to meetings, both countries receive tourists, hotels receive customers, and all these mean money to each country.'
University of Dar es Salaam Business School Dean, Prof Ulingeta Mbamba, suggested that Kenya should have avoided triggering the crisis if they had approached authorities in Tanzania before making their decision. However, Tanzania should also have gone to a negotiation table before reciprocating.
