THE US President Barack Obama makes a historic tout to Tanzania

By Nasser Kigwangallah in Dar es Salaam THE much awaited US President Barack Obama finally arrived in Dar es Salaam, the largest and commercial capital of Tanzania on Monday noon. He was welcomed by his host, Jakaya Kikwete the Tanzanian president and other top government dignitaries. Obama was welcomed by troupes of traditional dancers, to say that he hoped Tanzania would benefit from a regional trade partnership that would improve lives in ways that foreign aid cannot. "We are looking at a new model that's based not just on aid and assistance, but on trade and partnership," he said. He added that ultimately, the goal here is for Africa to build Africa for Africans. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete praised Obama and his predecessor, George W, Bush, who provided the country with millions of dollars in aid to prevent the spread of HIV, spending that Obama has cut in Africa. Obama praised Bush's funding for AIDS treatment and the two will have a brief meeting in the country where Bush is attending a conference on African women organized by his institute. Hundreds of young people lined the streets wearing T-shirts and sarongs bearing images of Obama in the biggest welcome of his three-country visit to Africa. He has already visited Senegal and South Africa. Obama's message has been that African countries must work hard to strengthen good governance practices and ensure human rights abusers are held to account. Obama pledged to foster further bilateral cooperation that existed between the two countries. "I am very happy to see President Obama. It has been my dream since he got into power because he's such a charismatic person," said many people who lined along the root in which Obama and his entourage passed. But others criticized his trip to Tanzania, saying they know Obama is coming for "American interests and that his trip to the country has brought hardship to local people than ever in their lives which has been disrupted. "One thing I would like to note is that there has been a scramble for Tanzania's resources, like gas and gold, and there's an obvious competition between the U.S. and China," said retired teacher Jesca Mbelwa, 65. "But I want to see Africans benefit from their resources first and second the Americans or the Chinese." …………………………………………