Clinton magic charms Dar
 
2005-07-22 07:58:04
By Guardian Reporter

	Clinton addresses the audience during Wednesday`s function.

Both Tanzanian and US security officers seemed powerless as Clinton reached out and shook hands with journalists and dozens of people who wanted to catch a glimpse of the charismatic former American leader.

An excited crowd that had gathered at the hotel’s lobby surged towards Clinton as he was leaving for the airport, giving his security detail a tough time trying to keep his frenzied fans back.

The crowd eventually broke the security cordon and Clinton obliged by shaking the hands of his thrilled admirers, most of whom was their first time to see him in person, let alone shake his hand.

’’Dozens of people turned up to see him. They clapped and cheered when they saw him and he responded by shaking hands with virtually everybody at the hotel lobby,’’ said Teddy Mapunda, who was among those who waited patiently to get a glimpse of Clinton.

’’You had to be strong to get the chance to shake his hand as security officers were pushing people out of his way,’’ said Anisa Ibrahim, wife of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Resident Representative for Eastern Africa and Somalia, Ali Ibrahim.

Anisa not only shook the former US president’s hand, but also chatted briefly with Clinton who was once the world’s most powerful man.

Another Dar es Salaam resident, Davina Johnson, who went to the hotel with her two children, was among the cheering crowd.

’’I’m here just to see him and take pictures. He was a great man who led a great nation. He was liked the world over and I think he is still liked to this day as you can see for yourself,’’she said.

	Clinton waves as he and President Mkapa leave State House grounds at the end of Wednesday`s function.

As Clinton was leaving the lobby, security officers directed him to pass through a side door to avoid a crowd that was waiting outside.

But when he came out and saw excited people waving at him outside the main entrance, he waved back, saluted and started walking towards them.

For a couple of minutes, Clinton was mobbed by people who could scarcely believe that they were seeing him in real life. He shook hands and chatted with some of them.

As he mingled with the crowd, an American female security agent appealed to the admirers to remain on the sidewalk to no avail.
Clinton later flew to Zanzibar where he was expected to meet the isles’ President Amani Abeid Karume.

He is scheduled to leave for Kenya today before concluding his six-nation tour of Africa in Rwanda.

Clinton, who was US President from 1992 to 2000, is visiting Africa to see how the HIV/Aids pandemic is affecting children on the world’s poorest continent.

The Clinton Foundation is spending US$10 million this year to alleviate the suffering of children affected by Aids, mainly in rural areas.

• SOURCE: Guardian