VZCZCXRO8783
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHDR #0222 0931138
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031138Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8390
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA 2855
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 3377
RUEHLGB/AMEMBASSY KIGALI 1304
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0308
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 1220
RUEHDS/USMISSION USAU ADDIS ABABA

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