THE Tanzanian mission in Rwanda has expressed shock and displeasure over reports published by the 'News of Rwanda' that accuse President Jakaya Kikwete of supporting and holding meetings with members of rebel groups opposed to the administration in Kigali.
It has described the reports as 'untrue and malicious.'
A statement issued by the Tanzania Embassy in Rwanda through the Directorate of Presidential Communications in Dar es Salaam said the reports are "nothing but a bunch of dangerous lies fabricated with obvious malicious intent to create an impression that Tanzania is working with enemies and groups opposed to the government of Rwanda."
The statement said that the report and other similar reports published in recent weeks by the 'News of Rwanda' were not only untrue, baseless and mere fabrication but also dangerous and threatening the diplomatic and social relations between the two neighbouring countries.
According to the statement, President Kikwete is deeply hurt by 'these lies' and it has advised the editors of the publication to stop fabricating untrue claims "which have the potential of creating and fuelling animosity and confusion among the people of our two neighbouring and friendly countries."
The embassy said it did not take such allegations by the 'News of Rwanda' lightly, given the position that the publication occupies in Rwanda.
It noted that since Presidents Kikwete and Paul Kagame of Rwanda had agreed in Kampala to foster friendly relations, such newspaper claims can only sour the atmosphere.
"President Kikwete would like to know what the editors of the publication were up to," the statement added. The statement categorically denied that Mr Kikwete has never met any of the people mentioned anywhere - in Tanzania or outside.
"Moreover, on the day that 'News of Rwanda' claims that the meeting took place, Thursday, January 23, the president was not even in the country; he was in Davos attending World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting."
Besides, according to the statement, Tanzania's Immigration Department does not have records of such people entering or exiting the country.
"The former Prime Minister of Rwanda, Mr Faustin Twagiramungu, was also not in Tanzania on any or the same mission and did not attend the meeting with representatives of RNC and FDLR as no meeting of such nature took place in Dar es Salaam or anywhere in the country," it explained.
The statement further noted that the Immigration Department has never issued any travel document to any Rwandan citizen, including those the 'News of Rwanda' has claimed that they travelled to Mozambique using Tanzanian passports on or around December 20, 2013.
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