Issue 89 features a cartoon by cartoon by Masoud Kipanya www.kipanya.co.tz

The tree represents “Corruption” while the man labelled PCB (Prevention of
Corruption Bureau – the forerunner of PCCB) is saying “I am doing my best”

pdf file of Issue 89 can be downloaded here

Tanzanian government ministers used to be treated with considerable
respect as they toured the country to explain government policies to the people. In recent months however, seemingly encouraged by President Kikwete to reveal corruption whenever they see it, the people have responded actively by heckling ministers as they speak and demanding action against those they accuse.

At the same time the media have begun to pursue corruption with enthusiasm and are causing much embarrassment to the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Party and the Government. The normally quiescent and divided opposition parties led by CHADEMA, the leading party on the mainland, and including the leading opposition party in Zanzibar the Civic United Front (CUF), and the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP) have joined together in tackling the government on a whole series of corruption related issues.

Nationwide elections for new leaders in the CCM Party made things worse. People witnessed widespread bribery and corruption as competition between candidates became more fierce than ever before.

Meanwhile, the newly created Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) with its new powers is also now beginning to show some teeth as it investigates corruption cases around the country.

THE MAIN ALLEGATIONS

Among the numerous alleged corruption cases being investigated are
the following:

1) The Bank of Tanzania (BoT)

Serious allegations have been made about what were described as dubious payments of some $200m (there are different figures of up to $800 million) from the Bank’s commercial external debt account. Bank Governor Dr Daudi Bilali (65) denied any involvement in these payments saying the allegations were based on rumours.

However, the allegations were so serious that Minister for Finance Mrs Zakia Meghji brought in an independent auditor of international repute (Ernst & Young) to review the Bank’s transactions. They were asked to assess the Bank’s internal controls, examine the disputed payments and check whether the transactions in question were bona fide, were conducted in accordance with agreed arrangements and had supporting documents. The report of these external auditors was finally completed at the end of the year, but, even before it was presented by the Controller and Auditor General to President Kikwete, journalists began their own investigations to find out what it had said. As this issue of TA went to press various unconfirmed revelations were published in the Swahili press. For example:

- Bilali was in America and lying sick in a hospital in Boston

- Bilali was staying in his house in Maryland – he used to work for the World Bank

- Majira made enquiries in Boston about his whereabouts but no one seemed to know where he was
- According to Mtanzania Bilali had written to President Kikwete asking to retire since he was ‘physically unable to continue working.’ Yet the Director of Communications at the State House, and Minister for Finance both denied that Balali had tendered his resignation.

- Two Deputy Bank Governors were appointed

- The opposition were calling for Bilali to be repatriated and prosecuted

- Secretary General of CHADEMA, Dr Wilbroad Slaa, called upon President Kikwete to appoint an independent commission of enquiry as there were many accusations against the Bank and its Governor which were not covered by the external auditors. He gave the example of the construction of the BoT twin towers which had cost millions of dollars. He said the audit report had been reviewed by officials on December 21 and that it was likely to be doctored before it was handed over to the President.

STOP PRESS – BANK GOVERNOR SACKED

President Kikwete announced on January 7th 2008 that he had sacked Governor Daudi Balali of the Bank of Tanzania after two external audit reports revealed that TShs 99 billion had been paid by the Bank to 13 companies based on fake and forged documents and TShs 46 billion had been paid out without supporting documents. Two of the companies apparently did not exist. The President also directed the Attorney General, the Police and the PCCB to take appropriate action against all involved in these deals.
A former World Bank specialist Dr Benno Ndulu was appointed as the new Governor.

2) The Buzwagi (also spelt ‘Buzwegi’) Issue

The Barrick Gold mining company requested permission to open new mine at Buzwagi and the government agreed. For reasons not understood the agreement was signed not in Dar es Salaam but in London and not in the Tanzanian High Commission but in the Churchill Hotel.
State House announced that Minister of Minerals and Energy, Nazir Karamagi, was not bound to inform President Kikwete while signing the contract in London. But the Presidential press secretary said that the Attorney General was involved in the negotiations and he was aware of the signing and President Kikwete had been kept informed – Habari Leo.

3) The BAE Radar Saga

The saga of the BAE radar deal, which has been covered exhaustively in many issues of Tanzanian Affairs (view), has now been taken to court in Tanzania after the PCCB decided that there was a case to answer and sufficient evidence to convict the people involved in the deal – Mtanzania.
The Guardian reported that one of the principal accused, Shailesh Vithlani, who was said to have lied and caused the government to suffer colossal losses was still at large. In the circumstances, the case was adjourned until January 12th 2008. The court was of the opinion that he was now living in the UK. It was stated that the accused, acting as an agent, had received $12.39 million.

4) The Richmond Electricity Contract.

The US-based Richmond Development Company, which undertook a $179 million government project to supply 100 MW of emergency electric generators in 2007, failed to complete the project at a time when the country was facing a severe power shortage. Many questions were raised over what actually happened at the awarding of the tender and the government subsequently appointed a task force to investigate the matter – Tanzania Daima.

At the end of the year Speaker of the National Assembly, Samuel Sitta, announced that he had received the report of the task force and it would probably be discussed in the next parliamentary session scheduled for the end of January 2008. It was reported that only four out of 75 witnesses had volunteered to give information and the rest had to be summoned to appear before the task force. Some were reported to have apologised for lying when called back for further questioning – Guardian.

5) President Mkapa

The next person to come under attack was former President Benjamin Mkapa. There was surprise when the opposition began to make allegations against him.

While addressing thousands of people at a rally in Shinyanga, veteran former CHADEMA leader Bob Makani announced that he intended to sue him. Makani said some people were misinterpreting the Constitution by assuming that Mkapa had legal protection as a former President but he was not protected for offences committed in his personal capacity but only in his official capacity.
The Director General of the PCCB said the Bureau had no legal authority to probe a former head of state who was facing corruption or other charges. He referred to section 46 of the Constitution which protected present and past presidents against prosecution and added that, the PCCB would be investigating the amassing of wealth by present and retired public employees. “We shall ask them to tell us how they obtained all those mansions disproportionate to their incomes” he said – Habari Leo,

President Mkapa said that he wouldn’t respond to graft accusations against him as he had already retired from politics – Majira.

Zitto Kabwe- CHADEMA MP for Kigoma North

For the first time CCM began to speak openly about Zitto Kabwe. CCM Deputy Secretary General, Captain Jaka Mwambi, urged care with the issues raised by Kabwe. Addressing an electoral meeting, Mwambi said that Zitto had become a heavyweight. Despite his ‘red card’ (suspension) many people were cheering him and that included CCM members. The opposition had scored a political point and CCM needed to elect good leaders who could stand up and argue cases with him.
Meanwhile, a Catholic priest in Dar es Salaam, Baptise Mapunda, described Zitto Kabwe as a saviour. Many people in Tanzania were timid like crows and did not dare to stand up against the devil. “I am a servant of God and not a politician, but I have to speak the truth that Kabwe is God-sent to tell the truth.” – Mtanzania.

At about the same time, CHADEMA Deputy Chief Dr Wilbroad Slaa tried to table another motion on the alleged scam at the Bank of Tanzania. “I am going to tell the public why the government instructed the National Assembly Speaker, Samwel Sitta, to block my private motion.” But eventually he did drop it saying that the prevailing parliamentary system would not allow such a sensitive matter to be dealt with properly. By September 18th the Sunday Observer reported that at a huge rally in Dar es Salaam the leaders of four opposition parties supported Zitto Kabwe and addressed people who had been annoyed by Kabwe’s four month suspension. Kabwe said that he was fighting for a just cause – to safeguard the resources of the country. Meanwhile, in Arusha an NGO of small-scale miners collected TShs 500,000 to assist Kabwe in his campaign.

CHADEMA then hired a helicopter for Kabwe to tour eleven mainland regions accompanied by top party leaders Freeman Mbowe and Wilbroad Slaa.

Naming names

On September 14, while addressing a joint opposition rally in Dar es Salaam, Slaa announced the names of ten leaders who he claimed were involved in skimming off billions from public funds over the years. Among them were a President, former ministers, two permanent secretaries and a lawyer. Slaa gave examples of dubious contracts and agreements signed with foreign investors – Majira.

CHADEMA MP for Moshi Urban, Philemon Ndesamburo, went further and told reporters it was pathetic that President Kikwete went globe trotting while the country was in turmoil. “He should have booted out the whole cabinet and run the government through permanent secretaries. It is a crisis situation and he needs more time to appoint reliable ministers” he said – Mwananchi.

Meanwhile CHADEMA itself was not without its problems. According to the Swahili press the leadership had to deny that there were differences within the party. Tarime MP and deputy chairperson Chacha Wangwe, told the press that there was no row within the party, and he had never accused the leadership of misuse of funds or of ethnic bias. Party Leader Freeman Mbowe said “We are as united as ever, but the pro-CCM media has been trying to smear us.” Wangwe was elected party deputy chairperson by 56 votes to 38 after a heated debate. He will hold the office for one year, and, according to the media, might then try to replace Mbowe. Some CHADEMA members were reported to consider Wangwe an ‘unguided missile’ and others baptised him ‘the Jacob Zuma of CHADEMA’ – Mtanzania

Scores of press reports have indicated how much things have changed in Tanzania during recent months. Examples:

The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) is reported to have discovered breaches of regulations in the purchase of cars for various ministries – KuliKoni.

At a public meeting in Singida called by the PCCB, people complained that there was an extortion racket at their regional hospital. The hospital was alleged to be taking bribes in all sections, from reception to the maternity ward and laboratory. The Regional head of PCCB in Singida, said the meeting was the beginning of a series to be held in public institutions to allow people to air their grievances on corruption – KuliKoni.

In late September thousands of people in Geita shouted down their CCM MP in the presence of Prime Minister Edward Lowassa. People said the MP never visited his constituency even though several of them had been evicted without compensation to make way for a foreign mining firm. Lowassa pledged compensation before the end of the year. In the previous week Geita residents had also heckled the Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals when he started criticising the suspended MP, Zitto Kabwe who has become something of a national hero according to Nipashe.

In Mpanda in October, according to Mwananchi, people gave a hard time to the Deputy Minister for Public Security, as they described alleged collaboration between police officers and criminals.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mizengo Pinda, has suspended officials from three villages in Mpanda district on charges of misusing TSh 463,000 collected from people. This was after villagers complained to the minister during his visit. They told him they had been contributing money but there was no sign of a school being constructed. Pinda called upon the officers to come forward and defend themselves, which they failed to do. He then ordered their suspension and asked the District Director to appoint a committee to probe into the complaints – Mwananchi.

DONOR REACTIONS

According to several Swahili newspapers, for the first time in recent history, 14 of Tanzania’s development partners who give budget support to the Government had indicated that their faith in the government was waning. They asked for immediate steps to respond to their concern at the way their funding was being utilised.
In his capacity as Chairman of the 14 partners, British High Commissioner Philip Parham apologised to Finance Minister Mrs Zakia Meghji for being frank and open. Higher commitment from donors had to be reciprocated with higher commitment from the government he said. It was not proper for democracies like Tanzania to remain silent on controversial and other crucial issues of public interest. Former US envoy Michael Retzer said that the US government expected the PCCB to nab the big and not only the small fish. But Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said that during a recent trip to America, President George Bush had patted President Kikwete on the back and told him that he was doing a good job in fighting corruption – Guardian.

During a meeting with news media editors, Foreign Minister Bernard Membe decried the mounting pressure which the government was getting from foreign envoys over its handling of corruption allegations, which had been further fuelled by CHADEMA MP Wilbroad Slaa when he issued his ‘list of shame’ at a public rally in Dar es Salaam. Membe said that members of diplomatic missions should not go against the Vienna Convention by voicing their concerns in public. He said the Convention required diplomats to raise their concerns through Government channels as representatives of their countries in Tanzania, and not through press conferences. He said the international community had already commended Tanzania which was among four countries that had been ranked as models of good performance – Guardian.

PARTY AND GOVERNMENT REACTIONS

The government’s reaction to the increasing evidence of corruption was at first critical of the whistle blowers. Then later it appointed a number of investigation commissions and finally introduced a whole raft of positive measures to try and ease the problem.

Government and CCM party reactions seemed to take three forms:

1) Attacking the critics

Firstly, there was denunciation of the opposition parties and the media for stirring things up on cases which it claimed had not yet been fully investigated. The government then began to criticize donor countries for interfering in Tanzania’s internal affairs.

According to Mtanzania, the Minister of State in the President’s Office told a press conference that opposition leaders were liars and rabble rousers. He warned them that the freedom they were enjoying was rare in other countries and that the law might take its course. He advised the opposition to take any evidence they have on corruption to court instead of instigating the masses.

2) Admitting that there are problems

Then the government took a more conciliatory tone. President Kikwete, in a frank interview with the London Financial Times, admitted that the opposition was posing a formidable challenge and could one day take over the country, though CCM was ‘still going strong’. He also accepted donor concerns about their funds. – the Swahili press.

3) Positive action

In response to all this the Government started to take a whole raft of measures to deal with the corruption problem.
Following an address by President Kikwete to the CCM congress in Dodoma on November 4, Mwananchi revealed that the Party’s Ethics Commission had found that 38 leaders owned assets that were disproportionate to their incomes. The Commission had sent the cases to the PCCB for further action,
PCCB spokesperson Dr Vincent Kihiyo said that the exercise was being carried out so as to show that the PCCB was not only after small fish as ‘misconceived’ by some people. He added that the PCCB was getting close cooperation from many people who volunteered information. “Some of them just call us anonymously, but others pass by our offices and hand over documents,” Dr Kihiyo said.

Election Results
In Lindi, the first lady, Mrs Salma Kikwete, was elected a delegate to the party congress with 406 votes out of 458. Her son Ridhwan Kikwete also won in Bagamoyo together with another family member, Yusuf Kikwete – Mtanzania.
In Musoma Charles Makongoro Nyerere, the son of Mwalimu Nyerere, and in Kigoma, former MP Azim Premji won CCM regional chairmanships.
Energy and Minerals Minister Nazir Karamagi also won a NEC seat but veteran minister, Joseph Mungai, failed to retain his Iringa seat. The Minister had dominated the Iringa political scene for 37 years and had served as minister under all past presidents. After the result he complained that he had never seen such a dirty campaign. He referred to a pamphlet that claimed he was a Kikuyu from Kenya.
The immediate past Secretary-General of the party, Philip Mangula also lost as did Minister Dr Juma Ngasongwa who failed in Morogoro. Former CCM Secretary General Philip Mangula, who suffered a humiliating defeat, said that, by the look of things, the time would come when the nomination of candidates to vie for CCM leadership positions would take the form of tender advertisements, whereby the highest bidder would win.
On November 7th National Assembly Speaker Samuel Sitta told MPs that he would take legal action against those who delayed returning forms that declared their assets and debts after the deadline of December 31. When opening the CCM Congress President Kikwete had said that, in future, assets declared by senior government officials and politicians would have to be assessed by the CCM Leadership Ethics Committee – Nipashe.
On November 16 the House Speaker announced that members of the public who feel defamed by MP’s speeches in the National Assembly could now lodge their complaints with him. If he finds them worth investigating, he would forward them to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges, Ethics and Powers for action.
Minister for Public Safety and Security, Bakari Mwapachu, asked Inspector General of Police (IGP) Said Mwema to expose to the media all police officers who were discovered to have taken part in corrupt practices – Mwananchi.

Some CCM members were reported not to be happy with the way party elections have been ‘raided’ by the PCCB. They insisted that the party had its own disciplinary and ethics committees which could have done the job instead of exposing the party’s muck in public. But President Kikwete said it was he who gave the order for PCCB to come in, which was justified, since the party could not purge itself of the rot – The Swahili press.

Terms of references include the reviewing of mining contracts and other documents related to commercial mining, evaluation of the taxation system in the minerals sector, and the rights and responsibilities of the investors and the government. The Committee was instructed to meet with the Chamber of Mines and other key stakeholders before giving its recommendations – Guardian.

The Presidential Commission on the mining industry has started touring the country to collect evidence at the beginning of January. People living near the Bulyanhulu gold mines in Kahama district told the Commission members that they had lost confidence in local leaders and officials, as they sided with the investors and were on their payroll.
One villager, said that the people near the mine were being ‘gagged with sweeteners’ they received from the investors. He said that before the committee arrived the mining firm entertained the villagers to a meal so that they would remain silent. “We are glad the presidential committee is here, especially with Hon Zitto Kabwe as a member, because we hope you will take our message said the villager – Majira.

During their visit to Kishapu district on January 4th villagers were reported to have jeered their CCM MP accusing him of siding with the mining firm in evicting them from their farms without following legal channels and without compensating them. The villagers told the Commission that the investor was also supported by the police and the mining officer. The meeting became unruly and so Chairperson, Mark Bomani, took the microphone and told the people that they were there to collect opinions on the mining sector and not to talk about their MP. When MP Zitto Kabwe spoke he received a warm welcome from the people – Tanzania Daima.)

Tanzania is not a member of the OIC although in 1992 Zanzibar caused something of a stir when it joined unilaterally without apparently consulting the Union Government of Tanzania. However, its membership lasted only one year because the OIC, under its rules can only accept as members fully sovereign states. The Government of Tanzania had strong reservations about Zanzibar’s action as it believed that it was not in the best interests of the country to join an organisation representing only one of Tanzania’s religions.

This sensitive issue has been discussed from time to time over the last few years with Zanzibar apparently still keen to join.

CCM leadership elections
Much of the Swahili press gave the impression that in Zanzibar Dr Salmin Amour (former President) seemed to have emerged as the winner over the Karume camp (supporters of the present President Abeid Karume). This was said to be symbolised by the failure of Deputy Chief Minister Ali Juma Shamhuna and two Regional Commissioners (RCs) to win election. Dr Mohammed Bilal, an ally of Dr Salmin, won.

Special Forces ‘too busy’ to meet CHRGG
The Tanzanian Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRGG) said it had had problems in meeting leaders of the Zanzibar Coast Guards (KMKM) and the National Service (JKU). Commission Chairman Justice Robert Kisanga said they were in Zanzibar to meet various state and civil society leaders but it was not easy to see leaders of the government’s Special Forces. He said the leaders claimed they were too busy to meet the Commission. A report submitted by the CHRGG accused the special forces of atrocities especially during the elections – Tanzania Daima.

NEW Electoral Commission
The new Chairperson of Zanzibar’s Electoral Commission (ZEC), Khatib Mwinchande, said his commission was facing several challenges, the foremost being updating of the voters register and the island’s residence law which became so controversial in the last elections when many people complained that they were wrongly disqualified. CUF spokesperson, Issa Jussa told ‘Radio Deutche Welle’ that his party was satisfied with the composition of the new ZEC, adding that it should be allowed to function independently without interference from the government or ruling party - Mtanzania.

Illustration from the cover of the “Dogodogo” book

“It left a deep impression on me” said Cherie Blair, the wife of the former British Prime Minister, in a Foreword she has written to a new 50-page book published by UNICEF, Macmillan Aidan and others entitled ‘Dogodogo – Tanzanian street children tell their stories’. “I was lucky when Kasia Parham, the wife of the British High Commissioner, took me along to see the remarkable care and support being provided to those who had nothing. I was struck by the dedication and warmth of the American Sister Jean Pruitt, who established the Dogodogo Centre in Dar es Salaam which provides a haven for boys rescued from the street” Cherie Blair said.

The book, which is edited by Kasia Parham, a volunteer teacher at the Centre, contains a large number of illustrations painted by some of the boys, and describes the experiences of eight of them – how and why they came to leave home, how they found refuge, how they survived in incredibly difficult circumstances, and how they still loved their families.

High Commissioner Philip Parham said that he hoped the book would be seen as a good teaching resource in schools in the UK, US and elsewhere to raise awareness.
Kasia Parham described how the boys told her their stories over a period of four months as part of their English language programme. As they learned to express themselves in English, they also learned to speak individually about their past. “Often they told me the factual events of their lives rather than their emotional responses to them. I believe their stories are more powerful for that” she said. “In subsequent more lighthearted group discussions they corroborated each others’ stories.”

The result of all this work is a highly readable book which explains in moving language the extraordinary and often very sad stories of their lives so far. During the past fifteen years some 1,500 children have benefited from the services of the Centre operated by the ‘Dogodogo Street Children Trust’ which also runs a programmes on HIV/AIDS and a successful anti-drugs programme.

With the encouragement of First Lady Mama Kikwete a USAID-financed edition is being produced in Swahili.

The book is being sold in TZ at Novel Idea and Art n Frame (Dar-es-Salaam). Schools in UK wanting copies should contact Ellie Wilson at Macmillan UK: e.wilson@macmillan.com.
See http://www.dogodogocentre.org for more information about the project. Those wishing to contribute to the Trust should contact Sister Jean at dogodogo@bol.co.tz.
David Miliband’s comments on the book can be seen at: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/blogs/david_miliband