US donates books to ARU

The United States has said it will continue supporting efforts by Tanzania to enhance transparency and good governance and improve education.

However, it has cautioned that it could ``walk away`` if the assistance it would extend towards that end landed in the pockets of a few people.

The US Ambassador to Tanzania, Mark Green, made remarks to that effect during a brief tour to Ardhi University in Dar es Salaam yesterday during which he donated a consignment of books to the university`s library.

The envoy said the American people were very generous but warned that they could easily walk away on realising that the resources and other assistance they extend are misused.

He said his government would help in combating corruption in Tanzania through sustained support for transparency and good governance to ensure that the resources are spent as intended.

``We give more assistance to Tanzania not because other nations do not need it but because we have great confidence in the country,`` he pointed out.

Ambassador Green said it was the American people’s belief that they have an obligation to come to Tanzania’s help because it is a country with a bright future.

He said the US government fully recognised the importance of education, particularly in developing countries such as Tanzania, and would continue to explore more and better ways of supporting education, research and development and other sectors in the country.

``For years, the American government has been a main sponsor in Tanzania`s health sector.

We are now looking into ways to increase our support to the education sector as well,`` he said, adding that knowledge, understanding and education were key agents of development.

Ardhi University Vice Chancellor Idrissa Mshoro said their operations were influenced by the various policy perspectives and major reforms taking place in the country`s education and land resources sectors.

Prof Mshoro recalled that US assistance to the university over the years included funding the construction of a range of buildings, adding that he saw the envoy`s visit signalling the dawn of a new era of mutually beneficial relations.

* SOURCE: Guardian, 13 Mar 2008
By Lydia Shekighenda