US President to Africans: Play your part in building continent

United State President, Barack Obama (Left) with President Jakaya Kikwete addresses press conference at State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday. PHOTO/EDWIN MJWAHUZI 

By Lucas Liganga,Katare Mbashiru  

In Summary

President Obama pledged handsome financial support towards the fight against the alarming poaching and wildlife trafficking.

Dar es Salaam. US President Barack Obama yesterday told Africa to stand on its own feet for the benefit of its peoples. “Africa should build Africa for Africans,” said Mr Obama when addressing a joint press conference with his host President Jakaya Kikwete at the State House in Dar es Salaam.

He said what the United States was doing was to help Africa to build itself, adding: “Africans have to play their part.”Speaking on the last leg of his three African nation tour of Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, President Obama reiterated his country’s continued support to Tanzania.

“This is my first visit to Tanzania…and I have special connection with this country. My father is from the East
 African region,” said Mr Obama in reference to his father, a Kenyan born in Kisumu.

“Habari zenu,” President Obama greeted journalists attending the news conference saying he was impressed by the way Tanzania continued to strengthen democracy, transparency, parliament and opposition politics.

He said he was optimistic that the ongoing constitutional review process will determine the future of Tanzania.

President Obama pledged handsome financial support towards the fight against the alarming poaching and wildlife trafficking. He said efforts should be done collectively to ensure protection of wildlife for future generations.

For his part, President Kikwete thanked the US for supporting Tanzania through the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Under the initiative, he said, Tanzania has been able to reduce HIV/Aids infections by 50 per cent, and cut malaria cases and child mortality rates.

President Kikwete said President Obama’s and today’s visit by former US President George W. Bush were very significant to Tanzania. “Africa needs the US and the US needs Africa. These visits consolidate our existing relations,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Kikwete was yesterday put to task by the media over abuses pitting a Tanzanian diplomat and his wife against a 20-year old woman, Ms Zipora Mazengo, in Washington.

He was asked to respond on the allegations that Mr Alan Mzengi and his wife Stella, treated Ms Mazengo like a slave at their Montgomery County home for more than four years.