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Kikwete: Food situation not that critical
2006-02-20 07:18:18
By Guardian Reporter
President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday allayed famine fears, saying food shortages in Tanzania were not critical compared to other African countries.
President Kikwete made the remarks at State House, Dar es Salaam, when speaking to a Khoja Shia Ithinashir community delegation led by Dr Hassan Ahmed, Chairman of the World Federation of Khoja Shia Inthinashir.
The delegation presented the president with a 50m/- cheque to supplement the government’s efforts to stave off hunger in some parts of Tanzania.
President Kikwete cautioned local and international donors who wished to support the government during this difficult period against exaggerating the problem.
He said the government was steadfast and had devised comprehensive strategies to tackle the threat of hunger, adding that food assistance currently being sought was for future use.
’’Thank you for the assistance, but I insist that the situation should not be blown out of proportion.
It’s true that we’re facing food shortages, but the situation is not serious like in some African countries,’’ President Kikwete told the delegation.
He criticised people who were using photographs of starving people taken in other countries and purporting them to be Tanzanians in the hope of attracting aid from the donor community.
’’It’s difficult for one to differentiate between Tanzanians and Somalis since they are all blacks.
That’s why I remind you not to exaggerate the problem while trying to help Tanzania cope with the situation,’’ he said.
President Kikwete said the government needed about 100,000 tonnes of emergency food aid that would be used if the drought persisted.
He reiterated his warning to traders taking advantage of the situation to hike food prices and urged government officials to speed up the distribution of food aid to ensure that it reached those in need in good time.
Coca-Cola Kwanza (3m/-), ITV (2m/-) and Kahama Mining, Channel Ten, TanzaniteOne and Shamo Industries, who pledged 1m/- each.
Other contributors who pledged 1m/- each were former President Mkapa, Agricuture and Food Security Minister Joseph Mungai, PPF, the UN team, Super Doll Trailer Manufacturers and Ethiopian Airways.
Mkapa and Mungai also jointly pledged 500,000/- while Tramontano and Barclays Bank each pledged US$1,000.
FAO Country Representative Louise Setshwaelo commended Telefood for being at the forefront of efforts to reduce poverty in Tanzania.
She said Telefood Tanzania ranked first in Africa and sixth globally in raising funds to assist the poor.
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