Africa: Kikwete defends African leaders
By The Citizen Reporter
The immediate chairman of the African Union, President Jakaya Kikwete, has defended African leaders, arguing that they are not responsible for the continent’s backwardness.
He made the remarks at the State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday when he met students from various countries who paid him a courtesy call.
“Development is a process, a very tedious one. You cannot wake up one morning and become a wealthy person just like that,” he said.
The 25 students who visited Mr Kikwete are from Tanzania, German, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Uganda and Rwanda.
They are on an exchange programme involving African and German students known as “Go Africa, Go Germany.” The programme has been arranged by the German President, Mr Horst Kohler.
Reacting to a question from one student who wanted to know why Africa was economically, socially and politically deprived, President Kikwete said:
“History has it that all nations have passed through the underdevelopment stage.
There are factors why political situation in Africa is still bad and one reason in colonialisation, which made Africa a source of raw materials and market for commodities produced by rich countries.”
He said together with unbalanced international political system which tend to favour rich nations economically and commercially, these factors have made things much worse for Africa. “It is not possible that the leadership in all 54 African countries is bad or have no ability. You need a justified international economic structure? we have been saying this for years since Uruguay and now at Doha talks.
“What we are saying is that our farmers cannot redeem themselves from the poverty cycle while they are barred from selling their produce at good prices because rich nations are protecting their markets by giving their farmers subsidy,” he said.
He added: “European countries give their farmers subsidy amounting to 365 billion annually. Our farmers cannot compete with them. That is why we are saying that there is a need to change international systems so as to create a level playing field.”
During the talks, President Kikwete also spoke about formation of one African government, a process of uniting East African economies, East Africa land resource and loans to students in higher learning institutions.
On major challenges which faces Tanzania at the moment, President Kikwete said it is poverty.
Elaborating, he pointed out that it is imperative to improve agricultural production as a way of redeeming farmers from poverty.
(thecitizen.co.tz)
Tags: Tanzania