By Peter Clottey

Sections of people in the Southern African region have reportedly welcomed with open arms the election of Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete as the new chairman of the Africa Union (AU). Kikwete takes over from Ghana’s President John Kufuor. Political observers believe Kikwete faces an uphill task to help solve the political crises on the continent in countries like Zimbabwe and Kenya. Sydney Masamvu is a political analyst with the International Crisis Group. From the South African capital, Pretoria, he tells reporter Peter Clottey that President Kikwete faces a Herculean task as chairman of the African Union.