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Tanzania: Bush Praises Anti-Graft War
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The Nation (Nairobi)
18 February 2008
Posted to the web 18 February 2008
Richard Mgamba
Dar Es Salaam
US President George W. Bush Bush Sunday revealed that the ongoing war on graft and the growing good governance and democracy were among the criteria used to give Tanzania a big chunk of the Millennium Challenge funds.
As President Bush was arriving in Dar es Salaam on Saturday ready for a four-day visit in the country, he made it clear that America is not ready to support looters who steal public funds.
The remarks comes amid looming questions on why the US has suddenly shown a strong interest in Tanzania, with President Bush pouring about $750million through Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project.
MCC has committed over $5.5 billion through compacts with 16 African countries to reduce poverty through economic growth, whereby Tanzania is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the funds.
Addressing a joint press conference at State house Sunday amid tight security, President Bush said, "America doesn't work with thieves", adding that the decision to back Tanzania's efforts to fight poverty have been pushed by President Kikwete's stand on fighting graft.
"We have big trust on President Kikwete and his regime...that is why we have decided to support major development." The world's most powerful leader said.
President Bush, who appeared calm with a smiling face a during 15-minute Press conference further added, "Our money is meant to help humanitarian conditions...Americans people are not ready to see their money being used for except for the targeted objectives."
The grant, will help improve roads, electricity and water supplies.
"My hope is that such an initiative will be part of an effort to transform parts of this country to become more hopeful places," President Bush said.
In response, President Kikwete assured his guest the grant "speaks volumes about how deep you have Tanzania in your heart".
Tanzania is the strong base of a tour intended to show successes for Mr Bush's humanitarian policies on the continent, during a presidency dominated by the war on terrorism. Mr Bush's message was a warning to various African leaders who have been championing the looting of public and donor funds, using the growing massive poverty as yardstick to legalise their looting.
Corruption costs African countries an estimated 25 per cent of its combined national income- some $148bn a year- according to a report released by Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Abuja in 2006.
For instance during the past four decades, Tanzania has received more than $20 billion through aid and loans, but the development achieved during that period has been minimal with mismanagement of resources cited as the main stumbling block.
Taken stern measures
In recent months, President Kikwete's regime has taken stern measures on fighting corruption by allowing investigations about three key areas - the $179 million Richmond tender saga, $131 million External Payments Arrears and the controversial mining contracts.
Mr Kikwete who was described by President Bush as a smart and role model leader in Africa, has ordered the recovery of all looted monies at the Central Bank of Tanzania through EPA accounts.
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Speaking about the post election violence in Kenya, Mr Bush repeated his stand of supporting any power-sharing deal to be sealed under the ongoing mediation talks chaired by former UN secretary General Kofi Annan. Mr Bush's talks with President Kikwete, the new chairman of the African Union, on the second day of his tour in Africa, covered the trouble spots of Kenya, Darfur and Zimbabwe.
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