FM MEMBE ON ZANZIBAR, POLITICS, AU, AND PIRACY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DAR ES SALAAM 000159 SIPDIS FOR AF/E JTREADWELL, INR/AA FEHRENREICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM SENV AU TZ SO SUBJECT: FM MEMBE ON ZANZIBAR, POLITICS, AU, AND PIRACY REF: A: Dar es Salaam 155 B: Dar es Salaam 57 DAR ES SAL 00000159 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Membe convened the diplomatic corps on February 19 for a general briefing on Tanzanian domestic and foreign affairs. Membe reported GOT endorsement of a Zanzibar coalition government; welcomed international monitoring of the October general election; boasted of Tanzania's free press and anti-corruption activity; and claimed the GOT was reviewing its laws to consider permitting prosecution of pirates. Membe also indicated Tanzania would soon be seeking support to train Somali soldiers. Although little of the information was new, in some areas Membe's comments were the first of a public nature. The event was open to the press (whose subsequent reporting varied in accuracy),and Membe permitted one question from the assembled diplomats. END SUMMARY. ZANZIBAR: "WE WISH THEM ALL THE BEST" -------------- ¶2. Membe said the GOT and CCM had officially endorsed the formation of a coalition government. On the proposed referendum, he said lawyers and the Special Committee were now working out the "precise and clear question" to be asked of Zanzibar voters, as well as the modalities of the referendum, in particular whether it would be held in advance of the general election or at the same time. He expressed appreciation for the efforts of Zanzibar President Karume and CUF leader Seif Sharif Hamad: "We wish them all the best." 2010 UNION ELECTIONS: "FREE AND FAIR" -------------- ¶3. Membe invited the international community to monitor the Union and Zanzibar elections set for October. He said formal invitations would also go to SADC and the AU to ensure free and fair practices. Membe mentioned the recently passed Electoral Expenses Act (see septel),which will require greater transparency by parties on the sources of their funding and will prohibit foreign funding after the dissolution of Parliament on June 30. Membe added that independent presidential candidates would not be permitted in this election (despite a court ruling to the contrary),not because the GOT objects in principle but because insufficient time remains before the election to effect necessary constitutional, legal, and regulatory reforms. GOOD GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION: RICHMOND, BAE -------------- ¶4. Membe described Parliament's closure of debate on the Richmond report not as a silencing of GOT critics within CCM but as a means of allowing Parliament to move on to more pressing issues. He said the GOT would continue addressing remaining recommendations from the Parliamentary Select Committee report. "The nation" accepts the responsibility taken by former Prime Minister Lowassa and the two other ministers who "had to resign" as accountability. Membe also observed that one of the officials blamed in the report, former Attorney General Mwanyika, had recently left office. Membe characterized the debate over Richmond as having divided CCM within Parliament, a division so sharp that it "generated vibrations across the country," but never affected the unity of CCM nationally. In any case, the closure of the debate meant that CCM's MPs were once again united. (Comment: This is a particularly rosy version of events.) ¶5. Membe welcomed the settlement in the UK between BAe and the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO),under which BAe agreed to pay nearly USD 40 million in connection with the sale of radar equipment to Tanzania in 2001. Membe called on the UK to transmit the money directly to the GOT rather than to charity, since it was taxpayers' money that the GOT wanted to use "efficiently." He also asked the UK to forward the SFO's final report and recommendations. ¶6. Membe acknowledged the concerns of donors, especially those giving general budget support, about corruption in Tanzania. The GOT was investigating serious corruption cases (although doing so quietly),while other cases were already in court. Listing other anti-corruption measures, he said all top officials, himself included, were required to report their wealth and its sources. He lauded Tanzania's free press for digging into people's pockets and houses to reveal corrupt tendencies. (Note: When the Swedish ambassador asked about the suspension of the Swahili weekly Kulikoni (see ref a),Membe said it was an isolated case to be considered in the context of the many media outlets in Tanzania, said he was satisfied with media freedom compared to other countries, and referred discussion of specific issues to the Minister of Information.) DAR ES SAL 00000159 002.2 OF 002 AU SUMMIT: WE CONDEMN COUPS -------------- ¶7. Membe highlighted the AU's unanimous condemnation for and zero tolerance of military coups and unconstitutional changes of government. He said the AU would immediately sanction Niger and prohibit its participation in AU meetings, as the AU had done for Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar. Returning to one of his familiar themes, he wondered aloud why all the coups took place in former French colonies. Membe also touched on the election of Malawi as AU Chair, the expected renewal at the July summit of debate on transforming the AU Commission to an Authority, and the AU's strong endorsement of the Copenhagen Accord. He thanked Japan and the U.S. for commitments to clean energy initiatives that would assist Africa. PIRACY/SOMALIA -------------- ¶8. Membe acknowledged piracy as a problem for East Africa and continued to hedge about the possibility that Tanzania would accept pirates for prosecution and detention. He reiterated the GOT's concern about the security risks from the associates of pirates who might be incarcerated in Tanzania. He declined to specify how long a review of Tanzania's current laws might take, but insisted on the need for harmonization of laws with Kenya and Somalia, which was a discussion that would wait until the March meeting of the East African Community ministers. (Comment: While it may make sense for Tanzania to learn from Kenya's experience, Membe's reference to the EAC, and especially to Somalia - by no means an EAC country - was a non sequitur.) ¶9. Referring to the ongoing bloodshed in Somalia as a disgrace for the continent, Membe said the Somali government had prepared a list of 105 soldiers to be trained in Tanzania. He said he would soon ask for support from partners (likely the U.S. - see ref b). LENHARDT