The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists

By Erick Kabendera

A man in black suitand walking with a slight limp hurriedly crossed the Second Avenue from the United NationsHeadquarters towards 42 SecondAvenue in NewYork one chilly afternoon.

He held a bunch of loosepapers and books. He would continuously stare at his watch as he walked, as ifhe was late for an important meeting.

He was a familiar figurebut I could not swiftly bear in mind where I had seen him before.

As I struggled torecall where I had met him, he disappeared and I did not see him again until aweek later.

This time it was inthe United Nations Headquarters entrance hall where he stood in the midst ofpeople of his caliber, who talked in soft voices and smartly dressed withassistants standing behind them carrying their files and briefcases.

Until a UNcorrespondent who walked past called out his name, I released that he was the permanent representative of Tanzania to the United Nationsambassador Augustine Mahiga.

A down-to-earthperson, anybody who has heard the work Ambassador Mahiga has done for more thanten years he has worked as UN diplomat, would not dispute the fact that theTanzanian ambassador is one of the top diplomats within the UN circles.

BetsyPisik, a correspondent for the Washington Times at the UN says when Tanzania was holding the Presidency of the Security Councilduring the month of January in 2006, Ambassador Mahiga became the centreof attention and many UN correspondents would want to interview him.

Pisiksays he is an intelligent man and would go to the press briefing with allinformation on his finger tips. “He was the media sweetheart and most of us enjoyedworking with him,” she recalls.

Tanzania joined UNSecurity Council as a non-permanent member in January 2005 for two years afterit scooped 186 out of 189 votes cast. 

It was during that time when Tanzaniamade history by becoming one of the founding members of United NationsPeacebuilding Commission (PCB) together with Denmark.

The establishment ofthe PBC was supported by the African Union at a summit level in Sirte. Heads ofStates and Governments meeting at the World Summit decided to establish the PBCin 2005.

Following thisdecision, the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations appointedAmbassadors Augustine Mahiga and Ellen Margrethe Loj, the PermanentRepresentatives of Tanzania and Denmark,to serve as Co-Chairs and steer negotiations among member States for theestablishment of the Commission.

The purpose of theCommission was to advice on ways to help countries emerging from conflicts.

Ambassador Mahiga joined the Tanzanian permanent mission to theUN before Tanzaniasecured a seat in the Security Council, but had wide experience of over 10 yearsof working for different UN agencies.

Prior to that, he had worked as United Nations Refugees Agency(UNHRC) Chief of mission in both Liberiain 1992-1994 and Indiabetween 1998 and 2002 in Indiain the same capacity.

When I was introduced to him at the Tanzanian mission a few dayslater, he could not hide his joy and left whatever he was doing to chat withme. He told me that Tanzaniahad co-chaired the informal consultations on system-widecoherence in the 62nd session of the General Assembly with Ireland.

One of the issues they were assigned to look into wasthe implementation of One United Nations Pilot Project of which Tanzaniais one of the implementers. The General Assembly had endorsed their joint report unanimouslybut the new president of the General Assembly, Father Miguel d’escotoBromann, had requestedthe two countries to continue with the project.

“I havenot responded to him because that was a tiring assignment. The Tanzanianmission spent more than 80 percent of its time working on the report and metwith 192 member states despite being a small team,” ambassador Mahiga said withwearisome looks but proudly.

Ireland represented the North and Tanzania represented the South, theambassador said and the findings of the project showed that the United Nationswas getting marginalized despite being an international agency.

“Donorswere giving aid money directly or through the World Bank or European Unionbecause the United Nation is viewed as inefficient on issues related todevelopment,” said the ambassador who also served as senior lecturer in InternationalAffairs and Regional Cooperation at the University of Dar es Salaambetween 1975 and 1977.

“So are you going to continue working on the reportas requested?” I asked.  

“No,”he replied.

“Tanzania and Ireland think the president of theGeneral Assembly should ask other countries to co-chair the process. We will remainin the board as advisors,” said the ambassador.

 “I am glad on the work we have done,” he added,nodding vigorously.

AmbassadorMahiga had received a letter not long ago from the Department of Peace Keepingand Department of Humanitarian Affairs, requesting Tanzania to chair a joint studyaimed at strengthening the protection of civilians during conflicts.

Regardinga small number of his staff at the UN, he thought his team would be overwhelmedif he accepted the request to continue working on the informal consultations on system-wide coherence.

Theambassador said a lot of people, including international NGOs, were knocking onhis office on daily basis requesting to work with Tanzania on different things.

“Ourcredibility has helped our country gain respect at the United Nations. As the Tanzania’srepresentative, I can see this,” he said.

Credibilityseems to be legacy that the ambassador has built at the UN. While visiting Tanzania early this month, duringhis recent visit of Tanzania,UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon paid special tribute to Ambassador Mahiga, whowas also present at the gathering, describing him as ’’a person whose workingstyle aims to bring changes.’’

He sadly pointed at a pile of books assembled on thefloor, saying Tanzania couldnot afford buying its own office in NewYork and he had nowhere to put his books since hisoffice was small.

“I do not have money. That is why Tanzania has notmarked its national day,” said Ambassador Mahiga.

When Tanzaniaand Ireland were carryingout the system-widecoherence project, the government of Irelandused a lot of money on my behalf of Tanzania to travel around the worldin the cause of the project. All dinners and lunches hosted to speak to 192countries about the project, according to the ambassador, were paid for by Ireland.  “Without their support, it would have beendifficult to accomplish the project,” he says.

You would have probably asked yourself quite a lotof questions about the operation of the Tanzanian mission at the UN and one ofthe questions are how does staff at the mission contact the Ministry of ForeignAffairs and International Cooperation back in Tanzania,considering the seven hours difference between Dar esSalaam and New York.

The ambassador says telephone call is the easiest means ofcommunication but very expensive. So they sometimes use e-mails although peopleon the other side might not read and respond on time.

“I haveto send three letters on average before they respond. I understand that theycould also be overstretched,” says the ambassador.

Whenmember states need to make key decisions, other missions to the United Nationsmay quickly consult their respective governments and give their position immediately.

AmbassadorMahiga feels Tanzanialacks resources as he may sometimes be forced to make decisions and inform his colleaguesback home later.

“Thereare confidential issues, which you cannot decide on before informing theheadquarters. Today I was voting on the issue of human rights and North Korea wasinvolved. I had to track the minister for 38 hours to get his instructions. Thetime difference in now eight hours and I have to stay up until 1am, waiting forpeople to arrive in the office at 7am back home,” said Mahiga.

Despite busy and hectic schedule that the ambassadorfaces on daily basis, he still finds time for dinner engagements organizedalmost everyday by different missions to the UN. He said the Kenyan permanentrepresentative to the UN was hosting dinner and was waiting for him as wespoke.

As weended the interview, he looked down, as if he had forgotten something and said,“Tanzaniashould have co-hosted the dinner but our budget is too limited to do that.”