TANZANIA: Women of Courage Lunch and Opportunity for

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000222 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/E JLIDDLE, INR FEHRENREICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR KWMN TZ SUBJECT: TANZANIA: Women of Courage Lunch and Opportunity for Dialogue on Corruption and Democracy REF: 2008 Dar es Salaam 739 ¶1. A March 26 luncheon hosted by CDA to honor a "Tanzanian Woman of Courage" featured a lively and frank discussion of corruption and of the role of women in leadership positions in Tanzania. The honoree, Anne Kilango Malecela, is a ruling CCM party legislator who defied party tradition and leadership in early 2008 by speaking out in Parliament about the improper role of senior officials in procurements. Her forthrightness contributed to the resignation of the Prime Minister (ref a). Lunch participants generally agreed that the Kikwete administration had taken bold steps against corruption, first by enacting legislation to strengthen anti-corruption institutions, then by prosecuting senior government officials (ref b). ¶2. John Samwel Malecela, the honoree's husband and Prime Minister in the early 1990s when Tanzania went to a multiparty political structure, said CCM is serious in its goal to increase the proportion of women in Parliament, from the current thirty percent to fifty percent. To achieve this goal, Tanzania would switch from a district representational system to a national open ballot where anyone from anywhere could serve in Parliament. CCM would construct its slate of candidates to reflect an even split on men and women. However, Malecela said CCM would only do this if all the other parties agreed to do the same; several participants expressed doubts that any opposition party would agree to establish a gender quota. Malecela conceded that such a system could lend itself to the tribal and class conflicts seen in other African nations. ¶3. A friendly exchange occurred between Lillian Mashaka, Deputy Director General for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and Vicky Ntetema, Bureau Chief BBC Swahili Service, regarding the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the media in Tanzania. Mashaka expressed frustration with journalists who continually ask direct questions about ongoing investigations. Mashaka said the PCCB often cannot answer questions for legal reasons or to avoid tipping off the target of an investigation. Ntetema suggested that the PCCB produce a media relations handbook to assist journalists and hire media relations professionals to improve communications between the PCCB and the press. The effective working relationship between the media and law enforcement agencies to reduce corruption is not well developed in Tanzania. At times, it is needlessly contentious. However, the Deputy Director of PCCB took note of the suggestions from the BBC reporter. She indicated that she would take them under genuine consideration. ¶4. Guests for the lunch were: Mr. and Ms Malecela; Genevieve Kato, Executive Director of the Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA); Mary Rusimbi of the Tanzania Gender Network Program; Lillian Mashaka, Deputy Director General for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB); Rose Haji, National Director for the Tanzania Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa; and Vicky Ntetema, Bureau Chief, BBC Swahili Service. ANDRE