VICE President Dr Philip Mpango has called on Tanzanian ambassadors to strengthen ties with the diaspora communities in their host countries to promote national development through targeted investments and partnerships.

Dr Mpango made the call in Dodoma yesterday during separate meetings with Tanzania’s Ambassador to Sweden Mobhare Matinyi and Ambassador to Mozambique Hamad Khamis Hamad at State House Chamwino.

He emphasized the need to identify Tanzanians living abroad by their skills, education or business engagements and encourage them to invest in the country. He also urged the diplomats to listen to the diaspora’s views and challenges to better align with national development goals.

“The diaspora holds tremendous potential. We must not only connect with them but also inspire them to participate in building the country—be it through education, housing, or business,” he said.

He reminded the ambassadors to advise Tanzanians abroad to respect the laws of their host countries while also supporting their families back home, including contributing to education and infrastructure.

Dr Mpango congratulated the two diplomats on their appointments by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, urging them to deepen Tanzania’s historical relations with Sweden and Mozambique. He also underscored the importance of understanding Tanzania’s strategic priorities, including the National Development Vision 2050 and both short- and long-term national development plans.

The VP encouraged the ambassadors to embrace economic diplomacy by promoting Tanzania’s investment opportunities and natural resources. He emphasized the need for ambassadors to be well-versed in their host countries’ economic data and development sectors to identify potential avenues for bilateral cooperation.

He further called for increased promotion of Kiswahili language abroad by creating opportunities for Kiswahili teachers and interpreters and urged for expansion of trade by securing international markets for Tanzanian products and linking local entrepreneurs with global opportunities.

“For countries with advanced technologies, we must build strong partnerships that allow us to apply their innovations in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and education,” he said.

Dr Mpango also encouraged the ambassadors to prioritize skills development for Tanzanian youth, especially through vocational training, research and capacity-building initiatives.

In conclusion, he urged the diplomats to promote Tanzania as a tourist destination, foster environmental cooperation—particularly in waste management—and attract foreign investment in health sector, especially in pharmaceutical industry.