The anticipated meeting yesterday between President Jakaya Kikwete and US President Barack Obama in the White House elicited both optimism and caution from across section of business, political and civil society officials in the country.
Opinion on the expectations from the highly publicised meeting was sharply divided, with some interviewees viewing it as an opportunity for the country to exploit for prosperity while others felt the nation should not expect much from the talks.
Those who talked to The Citizen in separate interviews on phone were giving their solicited opinion about the meeting that was scheduled for late evening in Washington yesterday.
A brief statement by Kikwete's spokesperson Mr Salva Rweyemamu last evening indicated the President and his entourage who are in an official eight days visit to US arrived in Washington early morning from Los Angels ready for a flurry of official meetings.
Kikwete was scheduled to hold talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and later in the evening (Night local time) meet with Obama in the Oval office for the talks.
Meanwhile in Dar es Salaam, the outcome of the meeting between the two leaders was eagerly awaited by a boisterous public.
Kikwete would be the first African President to hold talks with Obama since his historic win in the US elections in November 2008. The US leader is later in July scheduled to touch African soil as President in a tour that will however only take him to Ghana.
The Executive director of the Tanzania Investment Centre Mr Emmanuel Ole Naiko said the country stood to benefit from the investor confidence that was likely to be boosted by the Kikwete and Obama meeting.
"Their meeting is the best news in these times. Tanzania stands to gain from investors who often take such gestures seriously," said Ole Naiko. The TIC boss said Kikwete’s recent trips to the US have helped raise the levels of American investments in the country.
"The US was usually last among the top 10 investors locally but since the rise in relations since the Bush times, the country is today in the fourth position in terms of foreign investment here," said Ole Naiko.
He said he was optimistic that more American investment giants particularly in the ICT sector would be trooping in.
However University Lecturer Hazaveri Lwaitama and the Kigoma North MP Mr Zitto Kabwe who is an economist both expressed caution and said the public should not read too much in the meeting.
"Obama is currently more concerned about his domestic agenda than Africa. He does not happen to have a specific agenda for this continent unless in the future,"said Lwaitama.
The Univesity Don said he suspected Kikwete would only try to seek re-assurance from Obama that Bush’s commitment on issues such as HIV/Aids and other development programmes still stand.
"He could also try to explore whether there can be additional support beyond what was on the previous US package to Africa.But I don’t think Obama will commit himself beyond what is currently on the table.Tanzanian public should therefore not expect anything more," said Lwaitama.
Speaking from Busanda in Mwanza where he was campaigning for Chadema in the Sunday's by-election, Kabwe said: "It is simply a meeting between two heads of state and I would not expect too much. It is only a media spin."
Kabwe however said in terms of foreign policy, Tanzania has lately raised its relation with US as seen in the level of funds channeled through campaigns to fight HIV/Aids and Malaria.
"But I hope that the President uses the opportunity to demand that America commit itself to the new world economic order and atone for the sins that it did supporting African dictators who destroyed this continent in the past," the youthful Kigoma MP said.
An economic consultant with Daima Associates, Prof Samwel Wangwe said the talks between the two leaders will want to secure continuation of the Bush’s commitment to supporting Africa and Tanzania.
"They will likely look into how to improve business relations between a developing country like Tanzania and the US.
We hope Obama's commitment to Africa surpasses that of former President Bush and also see more of technological cooperation, through joint ventures between TZ and US," said Prof Wangwe.
A civil society activist Mr Moses Kulaba of Agenda Participation 2000, an organization that champions for democracy, governance and policy said he was concerned with "our president's globe trotting."
Mr Kulaba said other than positive political image building; the US visit may translate to very little because of the pressing needs back home that face the US President.
"We need to assess that all this expensive overseas trips make economic sense to our country. I hope the President uses the opportunity to make it clear on what Tanzania wants to trade better,"said Kulaba.
He said however that US currently viewed Tanzania as a better partner as it seeks a foot in the region and in Africa in general.
An economist at the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Moshi Humphrey said Kikwete should seek assurance that the support for malaria and HIV programmes continue despite the global economic crisis. "He should bring to Obama's notice that Africa is heard on global issues."
Another economist from Mzumbe university, Elsante Ole Gabriel said: "We hope Obama lends a genuine ear to what Kikwete will endeavour to say especially on opportunities which Africa and Tanzania can explore beyond the current support.
Meanwhile President Jakaya Kikwete on Wednesday night was honoured with a special award for his contribution in advancing health activities in Africa and Tanzania.
He was awarded by US Doctors for Africa –during a dinner at Intercontinental hotel in Los Angeles.
The chairperson US Doctors for Africa, Ted haneded over the award to Kikwete.
Kikwete becomes the fist African president to receive the award for his efforts in improving health sector in Africa.
The head of doctors paid tribute to JK for his position when standing to speak on Africa's issues.
Accepting the award, Kikwete also spoke of the ten year health programme and the recent increase of the health sector budget to 11 percent.
He said the access to drugs had increase to 80 percent among all 7000 medical schools and that 83 of the children below 5 years were receiving immunization.
On malaria he said that for children below 5 years, infections of the disease had decreased from 24 percent in 2006 to 14 percent last year.
"In some regions ,therate of infection has reduced to below 2 percent. He said five million people have tested for HIV in Tanzania since he launched the national campaign compared to 500,000 who had tested before.
Earlier,Kikwete had met with a tycoon, Elliot Broidy who told him of his plans to invest in projects in the special economic zones.
Broidy said Tanzania's political stability was a factor in attracting investors.
Kikwete also visited Studios of Sony company where he met the head of film production , Garry Martin .The President told the company of opportunities in Tanzania.
