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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DAR ES SALAAM 000018 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF FOR DON YAMAMOTO 
AF/E FOR B YODER, AF/RSA FOR J NAY, AF/EPS FOR M NORMAN 
DEPT PASS TO MCC 
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN PHUM TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA:  PRESIDENT KIKWETE PUTS NATIONAL UNITY, 
ZANZIBAR, GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AT TOP OF HIS 
POLICY AGENDA 
 
REF: A. DAR ES SALAAM 02339 
 
     ¶B. DAR ES SALAAM 02322 
     ¶C. DAR ES SALAAM 02321 
 
Summary 
-------- 
¶1. Promising an administration with "New zeal, new vigor and 
new speed," President Jakaya Kikwete delivered his first 
major policy address to the newly sworn-in Tanzanian 
parliament on December 30.  Speaking frankly about the 
challenges he faces, he made poverty alleviation and economic 
growth his top priorities, then spoke at length on his 
strategy to cement national unity among all Tanzanian ethnic 
and religious groups.  He spoke with particular passion about 
Zanzibar, emphasizing his resolve to bridge the sharp 
political divide between Pemba and Unguja, and asking all 
Zanzibaris to work together "to leave history behind" and 
make Zanzibar a viable economic and political contributor to 
the Union.  There was also an anti-corruption message: 
Kikwete stressed the foundation of all his initiatives would 
be good governance, and that he would demand accountability 
and transparency from officials at all levels of government 
and campaign finance reform for future political campaigns. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. President Kikwete challenged the parliamentarians to 
seriously look at campaign finance reform, outlined his plan 
to review the process of contracts and government 
procurement, and appealed to the Public Ethics Commission to 
ask each public official, elected or appointed "to account 
for our assets and wealth."  The President stressed that his 
plan will be an "inclusive economic growth" from nomadic 
cattle herders to IT developers.  In broad strokes he 
enumerated how his government will support agriculture, small 
and medium businesses (SMEs), the health and education 
sectors, social services and improvements in energy and water 
delivery.  He focused on tree planting as the linchpin to 
halt environmental degradation in Tanzania and called on both 
local governments and the private sector to initiate 
reforestation campaigns.  He acknowledged that the details of 
his agenda in all areas would be outlined once his cabinet is 
in place.  (Details on the new cabinet members, announced 
January 4, to be sent septel). 
 
Economic Empowerment, Education, Unity 
-------------------------------------- 
¶3. President Kikwete stressed his top goal would be to 
provide opportunities for Tanzanians to contribute to the 
steady growth of the economy.  He stated that his 
administration would modernize Tanzania and take its citizens 
"out of the morass of a still backward and dependent 
economy...by empowering Tanzanians to fight poverty." 
Kikwete outlined a ten-step program to reach that goal in 
agriculture, health, support for small and medium 
enterprises, energy, water, industry, tourism, environmental 
conservation, cooperatives and social services.  He pledged 
to make good on his campaign promise to create one million 
new jobs over the next five years throughout all these 
sectors. 
 
¶4. President Kikwete stated education was the cornerstone to 
reach his objectives to strengthen national unity and to open 
up economic opportunities.  He proposed establishing 2,500 
magnet secondary schools with students from all over the 
country attending ("Pan-Territorial Secondary Schools") as 
well as to establish a new public university.  The President 
requested that religious-based private schools consider 
accepting students from other faiths.  He also promised to 
work toward strengthening inter-religious and inter-political 
party dialogue at all levels by appointing a Minister of 
State to guide this national dialogue.  He stated that the 
nation's founder, Julius Nyerere, had "molded them into one 
nation with one identity;..yet, now there is a fear...that 
some want to take us back to where we came from and 
discriminate on the basis of tribe, color, religion or place 
of origin."  He said that neither discrimination nor division 
would be tolerated within his administration. 
 
New History Needed for the Union and Zanzibar 
--------------------------------------------- 
¶5. While apologizing to Parliamentarians for the need to 
speak frankly, Kikwete expressed his distress at the 
polarization of politics in Zanzibar, especially between 
Pemba and Unguja. "The recent election results have once 
again brought into sharp focus this polarization;...we cannot 
run away; we must confront it now.  Human beings do not have 
to be the prisoners of their history."  He noted that Pembans 
have taken full advantage of economic and business 
opportunities both in Zanzibar and the Mainland.  "How can 
they (Pembans) on the one hand integrate fully into the Union 
national economic space and yet be so detached when it comes 
to the Union national political space?"  He called for the 
cooperation and support of Zanzibar and Tanzanian political 
leaders and said he stood by to "initiate and facilitate a 
broad dialogue on the political future of Zanzibar."  While 
ready to start with the Muafaka Accord, if this would not be 
helpful "then we will look for alternate strategies." 
 
Good Governance At All Levels 
---------------------------- 
¶6. President Kikwete stated that a hallmark of his 
administration would be good governance, transparency and 
accountability.  "We will respect the rule of law and the 
principle of separation of powers between the three 
branches."  He promised to address the root cause of 
corruption, by increasing the salaries of public officials in 
step with economic growth, by making government 
decision-making and procurement transparent, and by 
strengthening the Prevention of Corruption Bureau, the police 
force and judiciary branch.  He promised to focus 
particularly on the systems of contract tendering and 
enforcement. "The time has come to close the loopholes on 
contracts..."  Also, he promised to tighten accountability 
mechanisms so that "public officials do not use their offices 
for personal gain or self-enrichment." 
 
¶7. Kikwete challenged the 331 Members of Parliament (MPs) -- 
among whom nearly fifty percent are beginning their first 
term as an MP -- to closely examine campaign financing.  He 
expressed his concern about the "notion beginning to emerge 
that political office can be bought" and cautioned elected 
officials to "ensure that our country will not one day be 
mortgaged to finance someone's desire for high office" by 
calling for a national dialogue on transparent campaign 
finances.  The President also stressed that good governance 
includes high standards to deliver public services 
efficiently: "The citizens deserve and must get better 
delivery service from the government."  He promised to 
establish a Commission on Public Service Remunerations to 
create strategies to both improve service, pay levels and 
other benefits. 
 
Defense and Security 
-------------------- 
¶8. President Kikwete outlined in broad strokes his goals for 
national peace and security including to: 
 
--  improve the working environment for defense and security 
organs. 
--  ensure the armed forces are disciplined, loyal, well 
equipped. 
--  improve the capacity of law and order forces to combat 
crime. 
--  finalize the preparation and issuance of national 
identity cards; and, 
--  step up efforts to repatriate refugees. 
 
He emphasized that Tanzania will continue to work closely 
within East African Community (EAC) committees to fast track 
the creation of the East African Federation until this "dream 
is realized," while at the same time continuing to work 
cooperatively with the South African Development Collective 
(SADC). 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶9. President Kikwete's speech was hailed by the Tanzanian 
press as the longest, most comprehensive policy address to a 
new parliament by a Union President.  Kikwete made a 
compelling case for national unity and took on the commitment 
to search for a new approach to narrow the rift between Pemba 
and Unguja and between Zanzibar and the Mainland.  On 
December 31, Seif Sharif Hamad, the Secretary General of the 
Civic United Front and President Karume's opponent in the 
October 30 Zanzibar presidential elections, told the press 
that CUF "accepted" the new president's offer to find 
solution to the Isles problems.  In his January 1 address to 
all Zanzibaris, President Karume also promised to support the 
Union President's efforts to reduce political tensions. 
Assistant Secretary Frazer pressed all three leaders on 
Zanzibari reconciliation during her December 19-23 visit to 
Dar es Salaam (reftels), and we will continue to reinforce 
her message with them. 
 
¶10. While President Kikwete's economic goals are ambitious, 
at least he begins his five-year term with the "good news" of 
debt relief from the International Monetary Fund.  His strong 
message on good governance, especially to review the system 
and processes of government contracting and procurement, 
indicates his awareness of underlying causes  that may have 
hindered Tanzania's economic development under previous 
administrations.  Both the new Speaker of the Parliament, 
Samuel Sitta, and the new Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa, are 
long-time confidantes of Kikwete, and many new faces appear 
in his cabinet that he announced on January 4.  For now, 
these steps bode well for a change not only in style but 
substance during the first term of Jakaya Kikwete's 
presidency, and we are sanguine that a new corner is being 
turned both for Tanzania and Tanzanian relations with the 
United States.  But only time will tell. 
DELLY