Tanzanian Association Oslo

Jakaya Kikwete assures

Norway of honest

use of aid cash

SEBASTIAN MRINDOKO
Dar es Salaam

PRESIDENT Jakaya Kikwete has once again assured Tanzania’s development partners that the government will spend external aid money honestly.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the visiting Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, at State House in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the president promised the Norwegian government and taxpayers that such aid coming from that country and others will be properly utilized for designated purposes.

’’Norwegian aid is spent well, that’s what I can assure you,’’ he said in answer to a question from a Norwegian journalist about allegations of high-level government corruption, including the recent resignation of former cabinet minister Andrew Chenge over such suspicions.

President Kikwete reiterated that his administration was committed to proper utilization of Norwegian aid money, and pledged tough action on corruption and mismanagement of public funds.

’’Whenever there are issues involving corrupt practices, we have not hesitated to take the required action, to investigate and prosecute all those who have participated in such unethical practices,’’ he said.

Other journalists also asked the president to explain the government’s position on the mining sector.

He briefed them on the ongoing mining sector review process, explaining that the committee formed to carry out the review of all mining contracts is expected to hand over its final report soon.

’’I have a great concern over how little my country, particularly its citizens, has been benefiting from the large reservoir of mining resources we have, and we hope the committee’s report will help us create a win-win situation,’’ he said.

The president also mentioned difficulties in the implementation of various partnership projects with Norway in the forestry sector, but said the government has taken strong measures in replacing officials who became obstacles.

On his part, Norwegian premier Stoltenberg said his government was satisfied with how Tanzania is carrying out various Norwegian-supported programmes, particularly in implementing the fourth and fifth Millennium Development Goals of reducing maternal and child mortality rates.

He said that was why Norway was now increasing its aid package to the country, including the latest signing of a partnership agreement on climate change ’’for which my government will provide both financial and technical support.’’

He noted that while there was need for economic growth in the country, there was also equal need for the conservation of the environment that has great impact on climate change.

Norway will provide 100m/- to fund the latest partnership on climate change, with areas of concentration to include tree-planting, preservation of forests, and promotion of indigenous communities.

However, Stoltenberg said the country still faces tough challenges like the need to improve good governance and effectively fight corruption which is undermining development.

’’More effort should be put in areas of good governance and the war against corruption, so that the aid provided by donor nations may be used accordingly,’’ he said.