23/01/2006

RC in plea for poor and hungry

Manyara Regional Commissioner Col (rtd) Anatoly Tarimo has urged the well to do individuals to assist poor and hungry people whose numbers are increasing by the day.

He said poverty was so widespread in Tanzania and other African countries despite advances made in education and other sectors in recent years.

The RC made the remarks here on Saturday during the launch of a book about a faith group called the Community of Sant�Egidio.

He said government leaders entrusted with the task of serving the people should direct more attention in helping hungry citizens whose plight has been compounded by the current drought. The RC told a congregation at a hotel in Arusha that globalisation and its associated fantasies has never helped the poor in developing countries such as Tanzania. Felischism Shirima, the country's representative of Sant'Egidio said the rising number of street children was worrying. He said thousands of disadvantaged children, including orphans, are roaming the streets without food, shelter or schooling.

He appealed for full support to poor people and said Sant'Egidio was meant to bridge gap between the poor and the rich.

The 189-page book called "Jumuia ya Mtakatifu Egidio" appearing both in English and Kiswahili versions, would be distributed to schools, bookshops and training institutions.

Zephania Ubwani