This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000165 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT AF/EPS FOR M NORMAN, AF/E FOR B YODER 
DEPT PASS TO MCC OFFICE 
ALSO PASS TO USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA: PRESIDENT KIKWETE NAMES COORDINATOR TO 
LEAD MCC COMPACT PROCESS 
 
REF: STATE 206370 
 
¶1.  (U)  SUMMARY.  President Jakaya Kikwete appointed 
Bernard 
Mchomvu, retired Permanent Secretary (PS) from the Ministry 
of Defence, as the key Government of Tanzania (GOT) 
coordinator for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) 
compact.  This appointment comes just two days before an 
MCC 
delegation is set to arrive in Tanzania to explain the MCC 
Compact process.  Mchomvu's secretariat will be based in 
the 
Ministry of Finance and Mugisha Kamugisha, the Commissioner 
for Policy Analysis at the Ministry of Finance, will be his 
key operational assistant.  END SUMMARY. 
 
State House Introduces Ambassador to MCC Coordinator 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
¶2.  (U)  On January 30, Chief Secretary, Philemon Luhanjo, 
invited Ambassador Retzer to State House to share the news 
of 
Kikwete's recent appointment of a full-time, special 
coordinator for the MCC.  Luhanjo introduced Mchomvu as the 
President's appointee "to coordinate all issues relating to 
the MCC."  Luhanjo explained that Kikwete thought it would 
be 
best to appoint Mchomvu prior to the MCC delegation's 
arrival 
on February 1. 
 
¶3.  (U)  After Luhanjo's announcement regarding Mchomvu's 
appointment, Ambassador Retzer provided a high-level 
overview 
of the MCC approach and emphasized the importance of 
learning 
from other countries such as Benin and Madagascar that have 
already completed compacts.  "This time next year, we hope 
that the GOT will have successfully negotiated a compact 
with 
the MCC -- a very positive step forward in the U.S. 
relationship with Tanzania.  Luhanjo agreed wholeheartedly 
adding, "the whole purpose of our introducing Mchomvu is to 
receive the MCC team and get to work." 
 
¶4.  (U) From the GOT's side, Commissioner Kamugisha raised 
two issues.  First, he inquired about potential "project 
preparation assistance" to conduct consultations during the 
Compact writing phase.  Ambassador Retzer highlighted that 
the MCA does not provide start-up funding but said that 
possibilities may exist elsewhere, such as the World Bank, 
for seed money to jump-start the process.  Secondly, 
Kamugisha inquired about possible duplication of 
consultations required by the MCC with the GOT's National 
Poverty Reduction Strategy (known in Swahili as Mkukuta). 
In 
2005, the GOT completed Mkukuta based on in-depth 
consultations with a range of stakeholders including civil 
society, international NGOs, private sector etc. 
Ambassador 
Retzer responded that the MCC delegation would clarify how, 
if at all, consultations would need to be broadened or 
deepened for to ensure sufficient participation for a 
successful compact. 
 
Background: Bernard Said Mchomvu 
--------------------------------- 
¶5.  (U) Mchomvu has over thirty years of experience working 
for the GOT. This month, Mchomvu retired from the Ministry 
of 
Defence and National Service, where he served as PS since 
¶2004.  Previously, he served as PS to the Ministry of 
Industries and Trade from 1996 to 1997, and as PS to the 
Ministry of Home Affairs from 1997 to 2003.  During his 
years 
of government service, Mchomvu has also acted either as 
Chairman (or Director) on the Board of Directors for 
entities 
such as the Tanzania Bureau of Standards, East African 
Breweries, National Steel Company, National Institute for 
Medical Research, State Mining Corporation etc. Mchomvu 
received his high-school diploma in 1968 from the Kibaha 
high 
school in Tanzania.  After completing his Bachelors degree 
at 
the University of Dar es Salaam (1969-1972), Mchomvu went 
on 
to pursue a Masters in Business Administration at the 
Strathclyde Business School in Glasgow (1984 to 1986). 
 
Comment: 
--------------------- 
¶7.  (U) Kikwete committed to having an MCC coordinator 
shortly after constituting his new government and now has 
done so, clearly demonstrating the importance he attaches 
to 
a compact.  By identifying Mchomvu and Kamugisha as the key 
GOT points of contact, prior to the MCC delegation's 
arrival, 
Kikwete enables their active participation in all of the 
MCC's meetings and events aimed at sensitizing the GOT and 
Tanzanian society to the MCC compact process.  The 
placement 
of Kamugisha as Mchomvu's direct assistant (the number two 
contact) is another positive sign for the process; 
Kamugisha 
has been the top contact for the Mission during the 
development of all MCA threshold activities and, therefore, 
provides a sense of continuity with the Mission. 
RETZER