Speaker of the House of Representatives (lower house), Habib El Malki, represented HM King Mohammed VI at the celebrations held Saturday in Dodoma on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of the independence of Tanzania.

In an address delivered on this occasion, Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli praised the Sovereign's decision to support sport in his country through the building of the new Dodoma stadium, a release by the House of Representatives said on Sunday.

Speaker of the Lower House conveyed to the Tanzanian President HM the King’s heartfelt congratulations and sincere wishes of prosperity to the brotherly Tanzanian people, the statement added.

On the sidelines of this ceremony, El Malki held talks with several Tanzanian senior officials, including his counterpart Job Y. Ndugai, speaker of Zanzibar Parliament, Zubeir Mauricie, and minister of foreign affairs, Augustine Mahiga.

The talks took place in the presence of Morocco’s ambassador to Tanzania, Abdelilah Benryane.

The 56th anniversary celebration of Tanzania’s independence took place at Dodoma’s Jamhuri Stadium on Saturday.