“We have discussed this in detail and we are ready to open negotiations to see how we are going to agree on the German colonial legacy. [...] I know there are families that are waiting for the remains of their relatives which are in several museums in Germany. The negotiations will guide us on how to do this well," Tanzanian leader said at a news conference with her German counterpart Steinmeier.
In addition, Steinmeier highlighted the importance of research on the colonial period.
"It is important that we agree on doing more research and adding more knowledge on what happened during the colonial period so that we can see how to turn a new page," the German leader added.
Moreover, he revealed his plans to meet people affected by the 1905-1907 Maji Maji rebellion against German colonial rule.
In 1905, German colonial policies, which forced the indigenous population to grow cotton for export, provoked an armed rebellion of Muslim and animist Africans in German East Africa (now Tanzania), which lasted two years and is known as Maji Maji rebellion. The rebellion resulted in tens of thousands of deaths among the locals, most of whom died due to hunger as German soldiers attacked the local population's food sources.
Mainland Tanzania was under the German colonial rule from 1880s until 1918, when it was captured by British forces during World War 1.
During the meeting with Samia in the Tanzania's capital Dar es Salam, the heads of states held talks on boosting diplomatic and development relations between the countries and on fostering trade and investment.
Moreover, the leaders met with representatives from German and Tanzanian businesses, the mission of the European country to Tanzania said.
Speaking about the meeting with Steinmeier, the Tanzanian president underlined ties with Germany in numerous fields.
"Germany runs our key business and a range of development projects in various fields, including water, health and the environment," she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
On Monday, Steinmeier arrived in Tanzania for an official three-day trip to enhance relations between the two state. The leader was welcomed at Tanzania's Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) by Foreign and East African Cooperation Minister January Makamba.
According to the Tanzanian government, the visit aims at "strengthening historic relations that have lasted more than 60 years."
As for Steinmeier's plans for the third day of the visit, on November 1, he will attend the Maji Maji War Museum and Maji Maji Primary School in Tanzania's town of Songea, the German presidency revealed.
After Tanzania, the German leader will head to Zambia. Along with Steinmeier, Scholz is also on a tour of Africa this week, which includes visits to Nigeria and Ghana.