H.E. AMBASSADOR BARAKA LUVANDA PAYS A COURTESY VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE JAPAN FIREFIGTHERS ASSOCIATION, MR. AKIMOTO TOSHIFUMI

His Excellency Ambassador Baraka Luvanda paid a visit to Mr. Akimoto Toshifumi, President of the Japan Firefighters Association (JFA), at their Headquarters in Tokyo, on October 23rd, 2023. The purpose of the visit was to follow up on the productive exchange between the President of JFA and the Honorable Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa in September 2022.

Ambassador Luvanda conveyed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received and meeting with the President of JFA, despite his busy schedule. The Ambassador recalled the productive discussions held between Mr. Toshifumi and Prime Minister Majaliwa in September 2022 and the submission of firefighting equipment requirements by Tanzania in July 2023.

Ambassador Luvanda shared the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force's five-year experience in rescuing fires and disasters in the country. He emphasized how previous Japanese assistance and donations have played a crucial role in this regard. The Ambassador highlighted that the demands of growing cities and the construction of major projects have outpaced the availability of firefighting equipment and well-skilled personnel, which are major reasons behind the need for further support.

Ambassador Luvanda also brought to Mr. Toshifumi's attention the pressing requirement for firefighting equipment and how the JFA can assist the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force with equipment, including fire pump trucks with water tanks, ambulances, rescue vehicles (cars and boats), and training for Tanzanian experts.

In response, Mr. Toshifumi conveyed his sincere appreciation for the recognition accorded to the JFA for their efforts in providing firefighting and rescue equipment to Tanzania. He gave an assurance to Ambassador Luvanda that all necessary actions would be taken to facilitate another donation to the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force. Mr. Toshifumi explicitly informed that his experts would officially provide feedback to the Embassy about the said donation in due course. 

Subsequent to the aforementioned meeting between Ambassador Luvanda and the President of JFA, the Embassy was communicated on November 29th, 2023, of JFA's response regarding the donation of a number of used vehicles to Tanzania for a period of five years (2023 – 2028). Additionally, it was conveyed that some of the vehicles had already been secured and were scheduled to be dispatched to Tanzania in December.