Tanzanians have every reason to be proud of their government which is full of innovations that are aimed at improving standards of living, the visiting former United States President Bill Clinton has said.
Zanzibar President, Dr Ali Mohamed Shein, shares a light moment with former US President Bill Clinton prior to their talks at the State House in Unguja Urban yesterday. Left is President Clinton’s daugher, Chelsea.
Mr Clinton said this in Dar es Salaam at the weekend during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Clinton Development Initiative (CDI) and the government of Tanzania.
The colourful event, which was held in the State House and attended by various dignitaries, including 10 farmers, witnessed the inking of an agreement that will go a long way in supporting the country’s agricultural sector by empowering small holders.
Mr Clinton said that his foundation will not fail in the undertaking. He added that allowing any failure would mean that CDI lacks capacity.
“This agreement is another evidence of the Tanzanian government’s efforts to improve the livelihood of its people. Indeed people of this country have every reason to boast of their government.
“This government is full of innovations aimed at improving people’s standards of living,” he said shortly after he had inked the agreement with his host, President Jakaya Kikwete.
He added: “While talking to farmers here they told me of organisations that came in the country claiming to have huge capacities to invest, but their projects have lacked sustainability and collapsed in a short period.
The scenario will not happen in this agricultural project because allowing any failure will mean that all of us have failed.
Earlier, President Kikwete and Mr Clinton held talks with ten small holders from Iringa Region where CDI has started its activities in agriculture projects, that are expected to be intensified with the signing of the agreement.
Mr Clinton said that in implementing the project a model farm will be established from where farmers will learn new farming techniques in a bid to go modern.
He added that such farms have registered a success story in other African countries where CDI is operating, including Malawi.
“In Malawi we started with one farm but currently there are 21 farms which have increased farmers’ earning five times and doubled productivity,” he said.
Speaking at the event, President Kikwete hailed Mr Clinton for his enormous contribution in the country’s development.
He noted that ten years of CDI’s presence in the country have been of greater importance and so much has been done in the health sector and now in the agricultural endeavour.
Meanwhile, ISSA YUSSUF reports from Zanzibar that former US President Bill Clinton has urged Zanzibaris to spare no efforts in enhancing the admirable success recorded in combating malaria in the islands.
“This has been a big achievement for Zanzibar. This success should be sustained,” said Mr Clinton in a brief speech at Amani Stadium where a considerable number of people gathered to welcome the former US president accompanied by his daughter Chelsea.
He promised that the Clinton Foundation, through its Clinton Health Access Initiatives (CHAI), will continue supporting the islands in the war against malaria.
The upshot is to save the lives of people particularly the vulnerable pregnant women and children.
At the colourful function, attended by President Ali Mohamed Shein; several executives from government and officials from the ‘Zanzibar Malaria Control Programme (ZMCP), said that in the past seven years the prevalence of malaria has dropped from 25 per cent to less than one-per cent.
Dr Shein thanked Mr Clinton and other development partners for supporting Zanzibar in the malaria campaign. “We appreciate your support and pray for continued support so that Zanzibar achieves its goal of eliminating the disease,” said Dr Shein.
In a separate meeting with Mr Clinton at the State House, Dr Shein said that his government has been taking serious initiatives in improving health care in the islands alongside plans to establish a health science institute at the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA).
The malaria decline in Zanzibar is attributed to implementation of multiple strategies including Integrated Vector Control, Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs), Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) and quick diagnosis and proper treatment (using Artemisinin-based Combination therapy (ACT)).
Source Tanzania Daily News
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