25th September 2013
US President Barack Obama has congratulated and
commended Tanzania for signing the treaty on the role of nongovernmental
organisations in fostering transparency in governance.
A statement circulated to the media yesterday by State House quoted President Obama as saying Tanzania is among the few countries in the world that signed the agreement which is aimed at strengthening and promoting nongovernmental organisations’ role in observing good governance, transparency and accountability.
President Obama said this on Monday in New York at a conference which discussed governments’ role in working with NGOs in promoting good governance.
President Jakaya Kikwete was among the few government leaders who took part in the special conference which brought together 300 associations (NGOs).
Other African countries invited to the meeting were Liberia, Ghana, Benin, Libya, Tunisia, Senegal, South Africa and Botswana.
The main theme of the meeting was how to strengthen NGOs and enable them to work more efficiently.
The conference was also aimed at calling upon governments that hinder NGO operations to immediately do away with the encumbrances.
The NGOs are crucial in helping governments to abide by principles of good governance.
Obama who recently visited three African countries including Tanzania expressed his gratitude by holding talks with President Kikwete referring him in Kiswahili as ‘kaka wa karibu na rafiki mzuri’ literary meaning ‘a close brother and a good friend’.
This surprised most of the participants who are conversant with the East African lingua franca.
Meanwhile, President Kikwete has said the government has never attempted to grab land from wananchi including small scale farmers.
President Kikwete said his government can in no way grab land from wananchi especially because the prevailing policies safeguard the interests of the farmers.
The policies, he said, are aimed at enabling the small scale farmers to overcome poverty and achieve personal development.
“There is nothing like land grabbing by my government. This will never happen to small scale farmers. Agricultural policies that have been put in place ensure that small scale farmers benefit first from such polices,” he said,Kikwete noted that large scale farmers who the government is welcoming to invest in the sector are to compliment the activities of the small-scale farmers.
The Presidents made the remarks when he visited one of Canada’s higher learning institutions, Guelph University of Toronto. The remarks came after the university conferred President Kikwete an honorary doctorate degree in law.
The President noted that farmers in Africa are facing many challenges and by no means can the Tanzanian government grab their land.
He said as much as the government needs enough investors in agriculture. “It is obvious that small-scale farmers need to be protected if agriculture is to bring about economic development,” he said.
A statement circulated to the media yesterday by State House quoted President Obama as saying Tanzania is among the few countries in the world that signed the agreement which is aimed at strengthening and promoting nongovernmental organisations’ role in observing good governance, transparency and accountability.
President Obama said this on Monday in New York at a conference which discussed governments’ role in working with NGOs in promoting good governance.
President Jakaya Kikwete was among the few government leaders who took part in the special conference which brought together 300 associations (NGOs).
Other African countries invited to the meeting were Liberia, Ghana, Benin, Libya, Tunisia, Senegal, South Africa and Botswana.
The main theme of the meeting was how to strengthen NGOs and enable them to work more efficiently.
The conference was also aimed at calling upon governments that hinder NGO operations to immediately do away with the encumbrances.
The NGOs are crucial in helping governments to abide by principles of good governance.
Obama who recently visited three African countries including Tanzania expressed his gratitude by holding talks with President Kikwete referring him in Kiswahili as ‘kaka wa karibu na rafiki mzuri’ literary meaning ‘a close brother and a good friend’.
This surprised most of the participants who are conversant with the East African lingua franca.
Meanwhile, President Kikwete has said the government has never attempted to grab land from wananchi including small scale farmers.
President Kikwete said his government can in no way grab land from wananchi especially because the prevailing policies safeguard the interests of the farmers.
The policies, he said, are aimed at enabling the small scale farmers to overcome poverty and achieve personal development.
“There is nothing like land grabbing by my government. This will never happen to small scale farmers. Agricultural policies that have been put in place ensure that small scale farmers benefit first from such polices,” he said,Kikwete noted that large scale farmers who the government is welcoming to invest in the sector are to compliment the activities of the small-scale farmers.
The Presidents made the remarks when he visited one of Canada’s higher learning institutions, Guelph University of Toronto. The remarks came after the university conferred President Kikwete an honorary doctorate degree in law.
The President noted that farmers in Africa are facing many challenges and by no means can the Tanzanian government grab their land.
He said as much as the government needs enough investors in agriculture. “It is obvious that small-scale farmers need to be protected if agriculture is to bring about economic development,” he said.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
