TANZANIA: PRESIDENT KIKWETE PUTS NATIONAL UNITY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DAR ES SALAAM 000018 SIPDIS AF FOR DON YAMAMOTO AF/E FOR B YODER, AF/RSA FOR J NAY, AF/EPS FOR M NORMAN DEPT PASS TO MCC LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN PHUM TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA: PRESIDENT KIKWETE PUTS NATIONAL UNITY, ZANZIBAR, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AT TOP OF HIS POLICY AGENDA REF: A. DAR ES SALAAM 02339 ¶B. DAR ES SALAAM 02322 ¶C. DAR ES SALAAM 02321 Summary -------------- ¶1. Promising an administration with "New zeal, new vigor and new speed," President Jakaya Kikwete delivered his first major policy address to the newly sworn-in Tanzanian parliament on December 30. Speaking frankly about the challenges he faces, he made poverty alleviation and economic growth his top priorities, then spoke at length on his strategy to cement national unity among all Tanzanian ethnic and religious groups. He spoke with particular passion about Zanzibar, emphasizing his resolve to bridge the sharp political divide between Pemba and Unguja, and asking all Zanzibaris to work together "to leave history behind" and make Zanzibar a viable economic and political contributor to the Union. There was also an anti-corruption message: Kikwete stressed the foundation of all his initiatives would be good governance, and that he would demand accountability and transparency from officials at all levels of government and campaign finance reform for future political campaigns. End Summary. ¶2. President Kikwete challenged the parliamentarians to seriously look at campaign finance reform, outlined his plan to review the process of contracts and government procurement, and appealed to the Public Ethics Commission to ask each public official, elected or appointed "to account for our assets and wealth." The President stressed that his plan will be an "inclusive economic growth" from nomadic cattle herders to IT developers. In broad strokes he enumerated how his government will support agriculture, small and medium businesses (SMEs),the health and education sectors, social services and improvements in energy and water delivery. He focused on tree planting as the linchpin to halt environmental degradation in Tanzania and called on both local governments and the private sector to initiate reforestation campaigns. He acknowledged that the details of his agenda in all areas would be outlined once his cabinet is in place. (Details on the new cabinet members, announced January 4, to be sent septel). Economic Empowerment, Education, Unity -------------- ¶3. President Kikwete stressed his top goal would be to provide opportunities for Tanzanians to contribute to the steady growth of the economy. He stated that his administration would modernize Tanzania and take its citizens "out of the morass of a still backward and dependent economy...by empowering Tanzanians to fight poverty." Kikwete outlined a ten-step program to reach that goal in agriculture, health, support for small and medium enterprises, energy, water, industry, tourism, environmental conservation, cooperatives and social services. He pledged to make good on his campaign promise to create one million new jobs over the next five years throughout all these sectors. ¶4. President Kikwete stated education was the cornerstone to reach his objectives to strengthen national unity and to open up economic opportunities. He proposed establishing 2,500 magnet secondary schools with students from all over the country attending ("Pan-Territorial Secondary Schools") as well as to establish a new public university. The President requested that religious-based private schools consider accepting students from other faiths. He also promised to work toward strengthening inter-religious and inter-political party dialogue at all levels by appointing a Minister of State to guide this national dialogue. He stated that the nation's founder, Julius Nyerere, had "molded them into one nation with one identity;..yet, now there is a fear...that some want to take us back to where we came from and discriminate on the basis of tribe, color, religion or place of origin." He said that neither discrimination nor division would be tolerated within his administration. New History Needed for the Union and Zanzibar -------------- ¶5. While apologizing to Parliamentarians for the need to speak frankly, Kikwete expressed his distress at the polarization of politics in Zanzibar, especially between Pemba and Unguja. "The recent election results have once again brought into sharp focus this polarization;...we cannot run away; we must confront it now. Human beings do not have to be the prisoners of their history." He noted that Pembans have taken full advantage of economic and business opportunities both in Zanzibar and the Mainland. "How can they (Pembans) on the one hand integrate fully into the Union national economic space and yet be so detached when it comes to the Union national political space?" He called for the cooperation and support of Zanzibar and Tanzanian political leaders and said he stood by to "initiate and facilitate a broad dialogue on the political future of Zanzibar." While ready to start with the Muafaka Accord, if this would not be helpful "then we will look for alternate strategies." Good Governance At All Levels -------------- ¶6. President Kikwete stated that a hallmark of his administration would be good governance, transparency and accountability. "We will respect the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers between the three branches." He promised to address the root cause of corruption, by increasing the salaries of public officials in step with economic growth, by making government decision-making and procurement transparent, and by strengthening the Prevention of Corruption Bureau, the police force and judiciary branch. He promised to focus particularly on the systems of contract tendering and enforcement. "The time has come to close the loopholes on contracts..." Also, he promised to tighten accountability mechanisms so that "public officials do not use their offices for personal gain or self-enrichment." ¶7. Kikwete challenged the 331 Members of Parliament (MPs) -- among whom nearly fifty percent are beginning their first term as an MP -- to closely examine campaign financing. He expressed his concern about the "notion beginning to emerge that political office can be bought" and cautioned elected officials to "ensure that our country will not one day be mortgaged to finance someone's desire for high office" by calling for a national dialogue on transparent campaign finances. The President also stressed that good governance includes high standards to deliver public services efficiently: "The citizens deserve and must get better delivery service from the government." He promised to establish a Commission on Public Service Remunerations to create strategies to both improve service, pay levels and other benefits. Defense and Security -------------- ¶8. President Kikwete outlined in broad strokes his goals for national peace and security including to: -- improve the working environment for defense and security organs. -- ensure the armed forces are disciplined, loyal, well equipped. -- improve the capacity of law and order forces to combat crime. -- finalize the preparation and issuance of national identity cards; and, -- step up efforts to repatriate refugees. He emphasized that Tanzania will continue to work closely within East African Community (EAC) committees to fast track the creation of the East African Federation until this "dream is realized," while at the same time continuing to work cooperatively with the South African Development Collective (SADC). Comment -------------- ¶9. President Kikwete's speech was hailed by the Tanzanian press as the longest, most comprehensive policy address to a new parliament by a Union President. Kikwete made a compelling case for national unity and took on the commitment to search for a new approach to narrow the rift between Pemba and Unguja and between Zanzibar and the Mainland. On December 31, Seif Sharif Hamad, the Secretary General of the Civic United Front and President Karume's opponent in the October 30 Zanzibar presidential elections, told the press that CUF "accepted" the new president's offer to find solution to the Isles problems. In his January 1 address to all Zanzibaris, President Karume also promised to support the Union President's efforts to reduce political tensions. Assistant Secretary Frazer pressed all three leaders on Zanzibari reconciliation during her December 19-23 visit to Dar es Salaam (reftels),and we will continue to reinforce her message with them. ¶10. While President Kikwete's economic goals are ambitious, at least he begins his five-year term with the "good news" of debt relief from the International Monetary Fund. His strong message on good governance, especially to review the system and processes of government contracting and procurement, indicates his awareness of underlying causes that may have hindered Tanzania's economic development under previous administrations. Both the new Speaker of the Parliament, Samuel Sitta, and the new Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa, are long-time confidantes of Kikwete, and many new faces appear in his cabinet that he announced on January 4. For now, these steps bode well for a change not only in style but substance during the first term of Jakaya Kikwete's presidency, and we are sanguine that a new corner is being turned both for Tanzania and Tanzanian relations with the United States. But only time will tell. DELLY