Can US shake the dragon’s influence in TZ, Africa?

President Jakaya Kikwete, accompanied by First Lady Salma Kikwete, arrives at the White House for a group dinner during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, on Tuesday. PHOTO | AFP      

By Richard Mgamba

Posted  Thursday, August 7  2014 at  09:24

In Summary

Suddenly, their dirty and dusty neighbourhoods had all been spruced up, and in a rare show of resolve, someone had actually seen it to use clean water to ‘‘bathe’’ the streets; it was a rare treat indeed — never seen here before in decades.

In the morning of July 1, last year, when five million residents of Dar es Salaam woke up to a lifetime shock and couldn’t believe their eyes weren’t cheating. Some thought they had been caught by the wrong hop.

Suddenly, their dirty and dusty neighbourhoods had all been spruced up, and in a rare show of resolve, someone had actually seen it to use clean water to ‘‘bathe’’ the streets; it was a rare treat indeed — never seen here before in decades.

Hundreds of those streets and walkways famous for the ubiquitous beggars underwent ‘‘state-of-art surgery’’ as beggar after another were temporarily bundled out from the heart of Dar es Salaam.

It was all part of a spirited clean-up to make Tanzania’s commercial capital a respectable, albeit temporary, home to the world’s most powerful President, Mr Barack Obama , for a single night’s sleep and two fractions of business days.

But, it was also just a special moment to welcome a man who came waving a $7 billion energy package in his hands, and a message of partnership in his heart to Tanzania and Africa.

Earlier in March, last year, Dar es Salaam hosted the dragon, Chinese President Xi Jiping, who made Tanzania his first stop-over during his tour of Africa, shortly after being elected the country’s top leader.

During President Xi three-nation Africa tour during, China signed 16 trade, cultural and diplomatic accords worth about $12 billion in Tanzania alone.

There are approximately 8,000 businesses run by his native Chinese compatriots across Tanzania, ranging from large-scale construction projects to small shops and downtown market kiosks.

This week, President Obama convened a giant game of “Let’s Make a Deal” between the US and Africa, bringing together nearly 50 African leaders with American investors for what he promised would be a long-term partnership that went beyond extracting “minerals from the ground for our growth.”

President Jakaya Kikwete was among the key speakers during the meeting, which some analysts see as the American’s attempt to overtake the growing Chinese’ influence not only in Tanzania, but across Africa.

For Mr Obama, the son of a Kenyan economist, wrote Mark Landler of the New York Times: “It was the centerpiece of a three-day summit meeting of African leaders — some close allies of the United States, others barely on speaking terms — that is the president’s most ambitious attempt to cement his legacy as an American leader who cares about the African continent.”

Mr Obama told African leaders: “Our entire trade with all of Africa is still only about equal to our trade with Brazil.” He added: