ZANZIBAR WHITE PAPER SHARED WITH KIKWETE/STATEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 000517 AF/E FOR JTREADWELL; INR FOR FEHRENREICH; NSC FOR MGAVIN E.O. 12958: DECL: OADR TAGS: KDEM PREL PGOV PHUM TZ SUBJECT: ZANZIBAR WHITE PAPER SHARED WITH KIKWETE/STATEMENT DRAFT TABLED WITH "FRIENDS" GROUP REF: DAR ES SALAAM 515 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: CDA Larry Andre for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On August 7 CDA reminded President Kikwete of our ongoing concerns about Zanzibar and left with him an aide memoire (see para. 4). Kikwete said he remained seized with the issue. At the same time, Zanzibar Affairs Officer (ZAO) tabled a draft for a common statement by donor countries at an ad hoc meeting of the "Friends of 2010 Election" Group, hosted by the UK (background and draft text in reftel). Sweden, as EU President, was awaiting further word from Stockholm on the timing and make-up of an intended troika visit to Zanzibar. END SUMMARY. KIKWETE: "PRAY FOR US" ¶2. (C) At the conclusion of an August 7 meeting between CDA and President Kikwete on Health and Assistance issues, CDA mentioned two other U.S. concerns: an ongoing APR issue (septel) and the situation in Zanzibar. CDA gave President Kikwete aide memoires on both topics (Zanzibar non-paper points in para. 3 below). In summarizing the Zanzibar points, CDA recalled his Fourth-of-July speech relating America's hopes and concerns about Zanzibar. He regretted that Zanzibar exhibited a lower standard of human rights than existed on the mainland. Kikwete seized on the Zanzibar issue, saying that he, too, was concerned. "We are trying our best," said Kikwete. He concluded with an ironic smile and said "pray for us." DONORS CONCERNED; WILL FIELD A MISSION TO ZANZIBAR AND WORK ON A JOINT STATEMENT ¶3. (SBU) Also on August 7, Zanzibar Affairs Officer (ZAO) briefed about the situation in Zanzibar to Charges, DCMs, political counselors and AID directors from Sweden, Finland, Spain, Canada, Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Britain, Norway, Ireland, Germany, France, UNDP and the EC at an ad hoc meeting of the "Friends of 2010 Election" Group, hosted by the UK (background and draft text in reftel). Norway (which also has had representatives on Pemba Island, Zanzibar, through the NGO "International Law and Policy Group") also briefed along similar lines. Norway concluded that now was "more tense than in the past" in that unrest had started so early in the election process, more than a year before any actual voting (expected to occur in October 2010). Norway also expressed concern about "nihilistic individuals" who might show dissatisfaction with the political stalemate through individual acts of vandalism or violence, beyond the control of any political party. The UNDP rep defended the technical aspects of the electoral process, pointing out that the i.d. issue and the political issues clouding the archipelago were distinct from the specific activities and machinery of voting. He criticized the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) for ineffective voter education and its vague plans for voter registration on the main island of Unguja (the calendar for which has not been released). He also thought that some aspects of ZECs screening were too strict, such as refusing voters from previous elections if they failed to produce their old voters' cards (even though they might possess valid Zanzibari i.ds and all the relevant documents that would otherwise be sufficient to subscribe a new voter). ¶4. (SBU) Several nations commented on the value of having people on the ground in Zanzibar. Netherlands said it would field a full-time embassy officer in Zanzibar for about a year starting this September. The candidate for the job was presently the DCM of the Dutch Mission in Palestine. Sweden recommended that the "Friends" group assemble small teams to be deployed regularly to Zanzibar. It also said that it was awaiting further word from Stockholm on the timing and make-up of a troika visit to Zanzibar, after which there would be some kind of communiqu. ZAO circulated a draft statement (reftel) and noted that the U.S. would like to be associated with a message shared by a broader group. Norway, Japan and others agreed. Sweden will shop our text to capital and circulate to members a draft for a common statement early the week of August 10, for release perhaps a few days later during the troika visit to Zanzibar. Later in August, an Ambassador-level meeting of the "Friends" will try to coordinate political activities of the donors vis-a-vis Zanzibar. TEXT OF AIDE MEMOIRE ON ZANZIBAR ¶5. (U) Begin text: -- Our assistance is for the people of Tanzania, not any particular political party. On Zanzibar, we implement our assistance in cooperation with whatever government Zanzibaris choose to elect. -- Any political instability in Zanzibar damages the international reputation of Tanzania as a whole. -- Given historically thin pluralities between Zanzibar's two main political parties, a system with no avenue for the losing side to influence change is a recipe for continued tension. Political tension impedes development. -- Governance in Zanzibar will improve once all Zanzibaris feel secure from political reprisals, and all Zanzibaris feel represented by their government. -- Development partners expect transparent, free and fair elections in 2010, held in a climate of civility and security. -- We are concerned about what appears to be an ongoing flawed system of voter registration in Zanzibar whereby Tanzanians seem to be excluded from choosing their own leaders, both locally and nationally. -- We have confirmed reports that the process by which the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar issues identification cards (possession of which has become, for the first time, the key criterion for voter registration in Zanzibar) is being done on a grossly partisan basis and therefore calls into question the legitimacy of the voter rolls produced as a result. -- Tanzanians resident in Zanzibar denied identification cards now run the risk of being denied basic services and protections afforded to all Tanzanians in areas that come under the administrative jurisdiction of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, such as the autonomous Zanzibar Election Commission (ZEC). For example, a Tanzanian resident in Zanzibar who is denied registration there has no avenue to vote nationally. -- The Union Government of Tanzania has ultimate responsibility for guaranteeing the civic and civil rights of all citizens of Tanzania. END TEXT. ANDRE