Kikwete due in US for G-8 summit

President Jakaya Kikwete

President Jakaya Kikwete is due to arrive here on Wednesday for a five-day working visit at the invitation of US President Barack Obama, during which he would attend the G8 Summit at Camp David and address a global conference on food security.

Mr Kikwete is among four African leaders invited for the high level meetings. The others are the current AU Chairman, President Yayi Boni of Benin, President John Mills of Ghana and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

The African leaders are expected to sign a memorandum with G8 leaders at the end of the summit. The annual symposium on “Global Agriculture and Food Security” will be opened by President Obama. Mr Kikwete and the other leaders are expected to discuss measures to improve food production in Africa.

The United Nations’ food price index, which measures monthly price changes for cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar, fell slightly in April but remains relatively high, with soybean and rice prices poised to increase. Fears of famine and drought are stalking several areas of Africa. Water shortages have hit communities in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Aid groups have also sounded alarm over a separate hunger crisis in the west of Africa where the Sahel region of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger has been hit hard by drought, high food prices and conflict.

President Kikwete is also scheduled to hold consultations with officials of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCC), led by the CEO, Mr Daniel Yohanes. Tanzania is a prominent partner of the US government initiative, having won a 698 million US dollars compact.

Tanzania is seeking opportunity to negotiate the second phase of the development financing package. The country is hailed here as an example of success among developing countries amid growing donor fatigue. Officials here credit President Kikwete for his contribution to the success.

The MCC cites “a series of reforms to increase transparency, good governance and country-led development” taken by the president to reduce poverty, enhance food security and create economic opportunities.

By MKUMBWA ALLY, Tanzania Daily News