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