From Nyerere to Now:President Dr.Mwinyi carries Tanzania’s NAM legacy to Belgrade for the 65th anniversary

BELGRADE-President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi has arrived in Belgrade, Serbia to represent the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan at a high-level meeting commemorating 65 years since the first Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Upon arrival at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, President Dr. Mwinyi was officially received by Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Andrijana Mesarović marking the beginning of his official programme in the Serbian capital.

He was also received by Tanzania's Ambassador-designate to Serbia, H.E. Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk, who is resident in Rome, Italy; Zanzibar Director of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ali Suleiman; and other senior Tanzanian officials participating in the commemorations and supporting the President's engagements during his working visit.

The high-level meeting, scheduled for 31 August to 1 September 2026 at the Palace of Serbia, commemorates the historic first Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Belgrade in 1961.

Sixty-five years after that landmark gathering, participating delegations are returning to Belgrade to reflect on NAM's contribution to international affairs and the continued relevance of its principles amid contemporary political, economic and security challenges.

President Mwinyi is attending the commemorations on behalf of President Samia and is expected to deliver Tanzania's national statement during the high-level meeting.

Tanzania's Enduring Role in NAM

Tanzania's participation carries particular historical significance, reflecting the country's longstanding association with the principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and its contribution to the struggles for independence, self-determination, equality and international solidarity.

Under the leadership of the late Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzania emerged as an influential voice within NAM and among newly independent nations seeking to determine their own political, economic and diplomatic paths without aligning themselves with competing global power.

Mwalimu Nyerere championed national sovereignty, equality among nations, self-determination, peace and international cooperation.

His leadership also placed Tanzania at the forefront of support for African liberation movements, making the country an important centre of political and diplomatic solidarity with peoples still struggling against colonialism and minority rule.

For Tanzania, non-alignment was therefore more than a foreign policy position. It reflected a commitment to independent decision-making, African liberation, South-South solidarity and the right of developing nations to participate in international affairs on the basis of sovereign equality.

President Mwinyi's participation, 65 years after the inaugural Belgrade Conference, underscores Tanzania's continuing commitment to these principles, as well as to multilateralism, peaceful coexistence and stronger cooperation among developing countries.

Historic Ties, New Economic Opportunities

The commemoration also highlights the historic foundations of Tanzania–Serbia relations, which date back to the close ties between Tanzania and the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the formative years of Tanzania's nationhood and the development of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Built on the principles of sovereignty, equality, mutual respect and international solidarity, those relations established a strong tradition of friendship and cooperation that continues to provide a foundation for contemporary engagement between Tanzania and Serbia.

Today, that historic relationship is increasingly focused on economic cooperation and shared prosperity. The commemoration comes as Tanzania pursues an ambitious development agenda under Dira 2050, aimed at accelerating economic transformation, industrialisation, infrastructure development and human capital advancement.

In Zanzibar, President Mwinyi's administration is similarly advancing an ambitious development agenda centred on economic transformation, infrastructure and public-service improvement, investment and private-sector growth.

Particular emphasis is being placed on harnessing Zanzibar's strategic location and maritime resources through the Blue Economy, including tourism, fisheries, maritime transport and related sectors, while creating employment opportunities and improving the well-being of Zanzibaris.

These priorities provide further scope for practical cooperation with Serbia in investment, technology, skills development and other areas of mutual interest.

More broadly, Tanzania has undertaken substantive reforms to strengthen its business environment, attract foreign direct investment and deepen regional and international economic integration, reinforcing the country's position as an attractive investment destination and a strategic gateway to East African and wider regional markets.

Serbia, meanwhile, has developed strengths in manufacturing, information and communication technology, agriculture, engineering, renewable energy, health services, education and innovation. The complementarities between the two economies provide considerable scope for expanded trade, investment and business partnerships.

Economic diplomacy remains a central pillar of Tanzania's foreign policy, making President Mwinyi's visit an important opportunity to build upon the two countries' historic friendship while advancing practical economic cooperation.

On the sidelines of the commemorations, President Mwinyi is expected to hold bilateral talks with the President of the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Aleksandar Vučić, during which he will deliver a message from President Samia.

The talks are expected to explore opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and the Blue Economy, alongside other areas of mutual interest.

President Mwinyi is also expected to engage with Serbian investors as Tanzania seeks to attract investment, expand commercial ties and promote increased trade and business partnerships between the two countries.

Belgrade holds a special place in NAM's history as the host of its first conference in 1961, when participating countries sought to strengthen their independent voice in international affairs during a period of deep global political divisions.

Tanzania's return to Belgrade for the 65th anniversary therefore connects a historic relationship shaped during the leadership of Mwalimu Nyerere and the formative years of the Non-Aligned Movement with a modern partnership increasingly centred on trade, investment, development and international cooperation.

President Mwinyi is accompanied at the commemorations by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Amb. Dr. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, together with H.E. Mussa Haji Ali, Tanzania's Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The delegation also includes senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation responsible for Multilateral Cooperation, Europe and the Americas, Economic Diplomacy and Government Communication, reflecting the diplomatic, political and economic significance Tanzania attaches to its participation in the NAM 65th anniversary commemorations and its broader engagements in Belgrade.