President Samia Suluhu Hassan faulted a decision by government officials to burn 6,400 live chicks imported from Kenya in 2017.
Speaking on Thursday, November 24, during an engagement forum with lawyers in Tanzania, Suluhu stated that the decision risked sparking a diplomatic tiff with Kenya.
Suluhu further insisted that the decision violated animal rights which are enshrined in Tanzania's Constitution.
While informing the lawyers on the need to uphold the rule of law, Suluhu noted that the directive, which was issued by a government official from the late President Pombe Magufuli's government, would have soiled the trading partnership between the two countries.
"It was not a good way to handle such imports. Even chickens have the right to live," she stated while addressing lawyers.
"Our trade with Kenya was until recently very difficult. There were lots of hurdles. Burning of the chicks made matters worse," Suluhu added.
Her sentiments were backed by Tanzania Animal Welfare Society executive director Thomas Kahema who insisted that the decision was ill-informed.
"It would have been better to return the chicks to Kenya than to burn them," Kahema stated.
However, Suluhu vowed to strengthen diplomatic relations between East African countries, especially Kenya.
"It was a major breakthrough after I visited Nairobi where we made business commitments with the former President Uhuru Kenyatta," she stated.
The 6,400 chicks were impounded at the Namanga border on the grounds of illegal importation.
Officials directed the chicks to be burned alive for fear of spreading bird flu which was prevalent then.
It nearly degenerated into a diplomatic tiff as Kenya formally protested on what it termed a policy shift that condones hostile actions against its citizens.
