Salaam za Siku ya Muungano na Hillary Rodham Clinton

On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of the United Republic of Tanzania as you celebrate the forty-sixth anniversary of the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar on April 26. This is an opportunity to celebrate the culture and accomplishments of your peaceful, tolerant and democratic country, and to reaffirm the bonds of friendship between our peoples.

We commend Tanzania for its work to promote regional stability, broad-based and inclusive prosperity, and democratic governance. And we salute your participation in peacekeeping operations from Sudan to Lebanon.

Your commitment to transparent governance and inclusive growth provides a foundation for the Millennium Challenge Compact we signed in 2008. Under this partnership, we are working together to support the Government of Tanzania’s efforts to reduce poverty through expanding remote populations’ access to transportation, electricity, and water. And through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the President’s Malaria Initiative, we are working together to improve the health of Tanzania’s citizens.

Americans and Tanzanians learn from one another every day through our Peace Corps program, with volunteers serving in every corner of the country from Mtwara to Mwanza, as well as through an array of educational and cultural exchanges. I have been privileged to experience the warmth and generosity of the Tanzanian people myself during my own travel to your beautiful country.

May the coming year bring continued peace and prosperity to Tanzania. I offer you best wishes for a safe and happy holiday.

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
April 25, 2010


Source: U.S. Department Of State

Winning the fight against malaria

We are making great strides in fighting malaria.

This was clear during my recent visit to Tanzania. I had heard about the success there, but it wasn’t until I looked at the hospital admissions book in Zanzibar that I saw how big the change was: only one malaria diagnosis in the past six months.

Just a few years ago, the clinic administrator said, there would have been 1,500 cases over the same period.

In 2010, Tanzania is expected to become one of the first African countries offering universal access to two of the most effective malaria weapons: insecticide-treated mosquito nets and affordable drug treatments.

Other African countries, including Ethiopia and Zambia, have also made rapid progress in the past few years.

But there are still places, like Sierra Leone, that desperately need help. One of the world’s poorest countries, Sierra Leone has the highest child mortality rate, largely because of malaria. In fact, malaria accounts for 40 percent of deaths there in children younger than age 5.

Decades of conflict have destroyed health infrastructures and created breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite.

This is a heartbreaking reality for a country far across the Atlantic. But what does it mean for the United States?

Plenty.

There are four reasons why it makes sense for Washington to invest in malaria-control efforts worldwide:

First, President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative includes reducing the effects of malaria by 50 percent for 450 million people. Even in the middle of the economic crisis, the Obama administration made global health a priority. This is not just an imperative to help those in need. It’s also because better health means better development — and a stronger global economy.

Second, malaria interventions are cost-effective with a high rate of return. For example, the cost for one insecticide-treated net, including distribution, is about $10. Each net has the potential to save several lives.

Kuoni exclusive camp, Serengeti Bushtops, is set to open in June 2010

Kuoni has announced that its exclusive new camp, Serengeti Bushtops, is set to open on June 1st 2010 just in time for this year’s famous wildebeest migration. Situated in the north west of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, this luxury five star tented safari camp is located directly in the path of the main migration route.

Just 25km from the Mara River, access to the tented safari camp is either by road through Arusha Lake Manyara, or by air via Kilimanjaro International airport and landing at the nearby Kogatende airstrip. Connecting flights to the Serengeti National Park are also available from Zanzibar, Arusha, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, with transfers also available between the Serengeti Bushtops’ sister camp - Mara Bushtops, a top destination for Kenya holidays.

Serengeti Bushtops has a number of specially converted 4x4 vehicles to take customers on wildlife adventures, such as off road game drives, bush picnics and hippo and crocodile spotting along the Mara River. Safaris will be offered on a private or group basis, each with experienced guides. The big draw will be the yearly migration of thousands of wildebeest which occurs between June and November each year.

To view this spectacular event, Kuoni has 12 specially designed spacious tents for guests to stay in which are open on three sides, and which benefit from wooden flooring, ensuite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, a hot tub, private veranda, writing desk, small library and telescope.

Other facilities include a mess tent with views across the Serengeti, a contemporary lounge with bar, library, camp fire and wine cellar as well as internet access and a 24 hour butler service.

What will be the fate of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani?

Facts about Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani: 1970 or 1974 born in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

1990-1994 Joined al-Qaeda and trained in bomb making.

1998 August, took part in the bombing of Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam embassies. In Narobi, 212 people were killed, and an estimated 4,000 wounded. In Dar Es Salaam, at least 11 were killed, and 85 wounded.

2000 November; In the Liberian capital, Monrovia, he ran a lucrative al-Qaeda financing operation, trading illegal "blood diamonds" for cash along with Fazul Abdullah Mohammed 2001 June; reports reached al-Qaeda that Ghailani and Fazul Abdullah Mohammed were lavishing money on women, in the form of presents and alcohol.

2001 October, Placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist list.

2004 July, After an eight hour battle in Gujrat, he was captured along with 13 others by the in Pakinstan military and turned over to the US.

2006 September, Transferred along with 14 other detainees from secret prison to Guantanamo Bay prison camp in Cuba.

2007 March, in an military hearing, Ghailani, admitted delivering explosives used to blow up the US embassy in Tanzania in 1998. In the Tanzania bombing 11 were killed, and 86 injuried.

2009 June, On the direction of the Obama Administration (U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder), he was transferred to New York City to stand trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He is held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan.

2010 February, US District Court Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ordered the Prosecution to review the record of Ghailani's detention in CIA's network of black sites And any materials that show the decisions “were for a purpose other than national security,” must be turned over to Ghailani's lawyers. Reports that Kaplan is considering dismissing the charges on the grounds that due to Ghailani's long extrajudicial detention he was denied the constitutional right to a speedy trial.

2010 March, Ghaiani’s lawyers has petition the judge that Ghailani be immediately released and granted a permanent resident card.

We should soon know the fate of Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, I wonder if he is released and granted permanent resident status if he will be allowed to bring his wife and family to the US also?


Source: Victoria advocate