CORPORATE FINANCE

ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY

MEDIA

JUILY
MAY 2009
2009

MEDIA
MediaREPORT:
Report,APRIL 2009
July 2009
April presented us with a few candidates for Trickster Of the Year. chief, religious leaders prayed for better leadership.
Introduction:
Development Entrepreneurship for Community Initiative subverted
the idea of poverty alleviation, and almost relieved thousands of In keeping with
government April’s
clears generaloftone
a backlog of anxiety,
corruption Yellow Couch
allegations makes
by failing to
The issue of separating religion and state has reared its head in July:
investors of their money forever. Meanwhile, Reginald Mengi and the case against homicidal marketing schemes. However, some
find evidence of malfeasance anywhere. In a new section, the report good
while adherents of the Muslim faith fought for their legal-religious
Rostam Aziz played out their feud for all to see, in a manner which news:
looks The Business
at what Notes columnists
the Sunday section makeshaveitsgotten
debutup in to
thisover
months
the
rights to be accommodated, the Catholic Church is weathering
suggested that perhaps the term ‘independent Tanzanian media’ is the report, and we are also pleased to offer a special Serengeti
course of the month while the Yellow Couch puts The East African analytical
the aftermath of a politically-sensitive circular to its faithful in
punchline of a bad joke. Not to be ignored, on the very last day of the piece
weeklyonnewspaper
the effectsunder
of the
its global financial
magnifying lens. crisis on the Tanzanian
preparation for the 2010 elections. Meanwhile, former presidents,
month
prime the army blew
ministers a chunk can
and ministers out rest
of the
easycity of Dar
in their es Salaam…by
retirement as the banking sector.
mistake. And as Dr. Slaa continued to vie for the role of contrarian in

Headlines News Analysis:

Headline News Analysis
For the first time since the beginning of the year the headlines have Politics: Biharamulo By-election
demonstrated
The news tablesconsiderable
reveal that, asvariation: the topmonth,
in the previous three stories together
the print media Media: Mengi’s anti-corruption’s crusade
made
was lessupfocused
less than15%
on oneofbigthestory
headlines for the devoted
and instead month ofitsJuly. The
attention Three political parties put up candidates to contest the Biharamulo
to‘Other
moreStories’
varied of the month
selection of (those
stories.that
Evendid not makethe
though it into thestory
main top West
The IPP parliamentary
Executive seat left vacant
Chairman, whenMengi,
Reginald Tanzania
calledLabour
a press
ten) make
spent 24 daysup in
over
the70% of theitheadline
headlines, shares.only
still occupied The16%Attention
of theSpan
total Party MP Phares
conference Kabuye
to reveal died
to the in a the
public bus names
accident
of early in April.
the five people
Index shows
coverage thatApril
during even the
withinflammatory
the rest of Kadhi
the topCourt
ten story
making didn’t
up get
less Chadema took on CCM quite credibly in a peaceful
he considers the most corrupt in the country, ‘Mengi: These are election,
more
than that two
a third. Theweeks
natureofofdeliberation
the coverage fromwasthe press.
more This may than
substantive partlyin but
the lost the seat
“sharks to the ruling(This
of corruption”’, partyDay,
candidate OscarThe
24th April). Rwegasira
reaction
be due tomonths
previous the post-budget speech slump
which is enouraging. when the diversity
Nevertheless, of issues
the question still Mukasa by roughly one thousand votes, with the
to Mr. Mengi’s statement was mixed. While some opposition MPs TLP coming
being raised from parliament compete for column inches
remains as to whether the short attention span affects how stories are amongst acommended
very distant him,third others
‘Chadema: We accept
questioned the defeat
wisdomin ofBiharamulo
his action,
themselves,
covered, and as
howwell as influences
that with otherthenon-political
narratives developments.
that emerge from this West
“MPsby-election’
hail Mengi(Daily News, 8 July).
on corruption
th
The number
‘sharks’” of reported
(The Guardian, 25th
coverage. election ‘irregularities’ and incidents was notably low considering
April) and ‘Kauli ya Mengi yaibua mapya’ [Mengi’s statement brings
the
newtradition of aggressive
issues to light] (Mwananchi,competition
25th April).between Chadema and
Top Ten Ranking Stories CCM in contesting parliamentary elections. ‘Biharamulo West
Top-Ranking Headline Stories pollcommentator
One peaceful’ (Theasked,
Guardian, 6th July).
‘Reginald Mengi ni msafi kiasi gani?’ [How
Politics/Religion: No Kadhi Courts clean is Reginald Mengi?], (Mtanzania Jumapili, 26th April). A few days
In spite of having
Finance/Society: DECI made a commitment as part of its 2005 campaign Corruption:
later SophiaRichmond
Simba, the Clearances
Minister of State in the Office of the President
manifesto,
This month’sthe main CCM storygovernment
covers thehas verydecided not toofintroduce
rapid demise a pyramid a (Good Governance), accused Mr. Mengi of misusing his media outlets,
Kadhi court
scheme that had system,
been and this July
operating put2007.
since an endSee tofull
the story
debare.onThepagefull
4. ‘Mengi Slated Over Corruption Outbursts’ (Daily News, 28th April).
summary can be read in the Main Story. Mr. Mengi’s action even seemed to have brought the government and
Union Matters: The Curse of Black Gold the opposition together after the Civic United Front (CUF) Chairman
The future of the Union came under scrutiny following comments by delivered a withering attack on the IPP Media Chairman,’Lipumba
Politics/Religion:
Zanzibar’s Minister Thefor Catholic
Energy,LobbyMansour Hamid, that his government slams Mengi over graft list’ (Daily News, 29th April). Mr. Yusuf Manji,
Theseek
will Catholic
to excludeChurch Oil inand Tanzania,
Gas policy through the Tanzania
from Union Episcopal
issues, ‘Isles Want named in Mr. Mengi’s list, decided to sue him for defamation. ‘Manji-
Conference
Oil,Gas Off List(TEC) Of hasUnion apparently
Matters’ (The beenGuardian,
issuing circulars
4th April).toThisits Mengi “soap” comes to court’ (Daily News, 30th April). By the end of
faithful
drew that response
a sharp touch upon from politics since 1995.
the Zanzibar bornThis year’sofmanifesto
Minister State for the month, some were left to wonder if the whole incident had done
touched
Union on issues
Affairs, Muhammed pertaining Seif toKhatib,
governance, with anoutemphasis
who pointed that the irrevocable damage to the reputation of journalism in the country,
on anti-corruption:
constitution stipulates‘CCM: that such Nomatters
stand made on church
are under document’
the jurisdiction of ‘Reginald Mengi aivuruga taaluma ya habari’ [Reginald Mengi undermines
(The
the Citizen,
Union 20 July), and
Governmentth
‘RaisthatTECany awajia
changes juuto wanaoupinga’
the status quo [TEC would journalism profession] (Rai, 30th April).
president
require the responds
consent of to opposition] (Mwananchi,‘Union
the Union Parliament, 22 July).
nd
They areto
Parliament
usuallyontimed
decide oil, gasto saga’
precede (Theupcoming
African, 6th general
April).elections,
Zanzibarand Housewhile
of Crime:
FormerThePrime
ZombeMinister
Trial Mr. Edward Lowassa, Attorney General Mr.
the Church hasmembers
Representatives yet to bereacted
caughtangrilyofficially endorsing
to such candidates
a suggestion it
calling The murder
Johnson trial of former
Mwanyika, Assistantand
and Prevention Police Commissioner,
Combatting Abdallah
of Corruption
does
for thenot hide the
minister political
to resign. influence
They claimedthat thatit he
wields from the
was using the issue
pulpit,to Zombe,
Bureau and his accomplices
Director Mr. Edward continued
Hosea have this month.
all beenThings
cleared didbynot theall
considering
ingratiate its estimated
himself with thefollowing
mainlandofin 10 an million:
attempt‘Kilaini:
to garner Nosupport
going go the prosecution’s
government from any way, ‘Key witness
wrong-doing in intheZombe’s
Richmond caseLLCdiesscandal
in Dar’
back’
for his (The Citizen, in17theJune).
candidacy th
2010This year’s round
Zanzibari of documents
presidential election. has
Mr. (The Citizen, 4th
‘Richmond April).
report AfterLowassa’
clears fevered speculation
(The Sundaythat the late26Detective
Citizen, th
July).
received
Khatib wassomewhat more attention
bullish, claiming that thethan usual:attacks
personal ‘Kingungewere aliangukia
an attempt Rashid
Deputy Minister for Energy and Minerals Mr. Adam Malimapolice
Lema’s death may have been the result of foul play, the said
atKanisa Katoliki’
distracting [Kingunge
the voters from thecomes realdown
issue, hard on Catholic
‘Khatib: I’ll not stepChurch]
down ordered an autopsy, ‘Police order more tests on cause
that the government would not be taking any legal action against of death of key
(Habari
over Leo, 16
oil issue’ (TheJuly).
th
CCM8th
Guardian, politicians
April). This werebacknot and
the forth
only ones to
had one government
witness in Zombe officials
trial’implicated in the
(The Guardian, 7thscandal. Mr. story
April). The Lowassa got was
even
raise concerns
commentator soundabout the of
a note documents’ violation of
caution, ‘Discovery of oilthein separation
Z’bar must forced to
stranger as resign in February
news broke that the2008 over thelawyer
defendants’ Richmond
died, issue
just a after
week
between religion and politics, as various political
not develop into a curse’ (Sunday Citizen, 12th April). After the House party leaders and dedicated
before pressure
the trial was tofrom the ‘Top
resume, opposition
Zombecoupled
advocatewith
diesinformation
in hospital in
ofpundits engaged invoted
Representatives a newspaper-led
unanimously debate
for theabout the repercussions
exclusion of oil and leaks
US’ from
(The government
Citizen, 22nd April). sources resulted
The drama in the at
continued formation
the courthouseof a
of issues
gas the Catholic
from union Church’s actions: ‘CUF does
matters-’Zanzibar likelynotto approve
back Reps’ Church’s
views parliamentary investigative committee headed by Hon. Harrison‘I
after one of the defendants contradicted his fellow accomplices’,
ondoc-
oil,Seif
gas’’ (The African, 24
(The African, 10thJuly),
th
April)-‘Lipumba:
PresidentWarakaKikwete Katoliki safi]
intervened Mwakyembe
witnessed (CCM- of
“execution” Kyela).
trader,The
saysgovernment’s decision29th
accused’ (The Citizen, to April).
clear
(Lipumba:
and Catholic
urged people document
to stop arguingfine] about(Mwananchi,
hypothetical 22 matters,
nd
July), ‘Msekwa
‘JK:No officials
As implicated
one newspaper putinit,the Mwakyembe
‘Kesi ya Zombe yazidireportkuibua
raisedmambo
some debatemazito’
autetea waraka Katoliki’ [Msekwa defends
Point Arguing Over non-Existent Oil’ (The Guardian, 29th April). Catholic circular] amongstcase
[Zombe’s legislators,
continues toand with
reveal the Executive:
strange ‘MPs up
things] (Mtanzania, in arms
29th April).overThe
(Mwananchi, 26th July). Richmond ‘cleansing’ (The Citizen, 30 July), ‘House ‘statement’ on
th

Richmond tomorrow’ (The Guardian, 30th July).

SERENGETI ADVISERS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY JUILY, 2009

2
Infrastructure: The TICTS and TRL Contracts
Tanzania Railways Limited (TRL) and Tanzania International
Container Terminal Services (TICTS) have been getting a lot of media
attention, sometimes as examples of unsuccessful privatization.
Both companies came under scrutiny again when the Ministry for
Infrastructure Development presented its budget estimates, and
reported on its progress in assessing its contracts with RITES of
India which is managing TRL, and TICTS which is a member of
Hutchison Port Holdings, a subsidiary company of the Hutchison
Whampoa Limited conglomerate. ‘Govt railed over TICTS deal’
(Daily News, 3rd July), ‘Impasse over TICTS, TRL not yet resolved’
(The Guardian, 3rd July). The main concerns are the efficiency of
these companies, with both requiring injections from government
coffers, TRL failing to provide services as promised and TICTS
being grilled over the capacity and efficiency of Dar es Salaam port:
‘Shs 18.2bn/- TICTS amnesty as Bunge action looms’ (The Citizen,
2nd July) ‘Investors suspected of outright sabotage’ (This Day, 4th
July).
A major point of contention in the TICTS contract is the
exclusivity clause which leaves out other potential investors,
while the government is interested in reviewing and possibly
renegotiating its contract with RITES ‘Kawambwa says govt
willing to review TRL contract’ (The Guardian, 8th July), ‘TICTS
exclusivity dispute goes on’ (Daily News, 14th July), ‘Axe falls on
TICTS monopoly’ (Daily News, 15th July). During the reporting
period, TRL was involved in a dispute with workers over salary
deductions: ‘TRL workers stage a go-slow’ (The Guardian, 2nd
July), and lost 10bn/- : ‘Massive theft at TRL’ (The Citizen, 3rd
July), while TICTS also faced union action: ‘TICTS workers on
go-slow’ (Sunday News, 12th July), ‘TICTS workers strike, want
two senior officials sacked’ (The African, 28th July).
Politics/Mineral Resources: Oil, Gas and the Union
The sharing of revenue from potential oil and gas resources is a
bone of contention between Zanzibar and the mainland, in spite
of being one of the issues discussed under Mwafaka: ‘Isles: Oil,
natural gas issue yet to be resolved at Union level’ (The Guardian,
1st July). In the event, the government of Zanzibar announced its
intention to remove oil and gas exploration from the Union in order
to protect the interests of its citizens, claiming that Zanzibar was
not benefitting from the exploration that has taken place so far:
‘Zanzibar: oil and gas out of Union’ (The Guardian, 9th July). This
apparently unilateral move was not well received by mainland MPs,
which raised the ghosts of the Union debate: ‘Z’bar wrong on oil
and gas- Speaker’ (The Guardian, 10th July), ‘Oil, gas issues dominate
budget debate’ (Daily News, 10th July), ‘Z’bar digs in on oil revenue
sharing’ (The Citizen, 11th July), ‘Analysts see oil debate as the tip of
an iceberg’ (The Citizen, 19th July).
Politics/Mineral Resources: Kiwira Coal Mine
During a Bunge Q&A session, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda let
it be known that the government was planning to buy back Kiwira
Coal Mine from its majority shareholder the Kiwira Coal and Power
Company. This was not well-received by opposition MPs who were
concerned about former president Benjamin Mkapa’s role in the
possibly illegal privatization and appropriation of the coal mine in
2005 through Tanpower Resources Ltd- a company owned by Mkapa,
former Finance Minister Daniel Yona and several of their relatives.
This led to a debate about Mr. Mkapa’s immunity from prosecution
as a former head of state: ‘Ex-presidents can face criminal charges-
SERENGETI ADVISERS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY JUILY, 2009
MP’ (This Day, 1st July). Minister for Energy and Minerals William
Ngeleja confirmed at the end of the month that the government
was indeed planning to reimburse the current owners of the mine
“all costs they incurred after taking over the mine.” Some gray
areas that the media was unable to clarify include the real ownership
of Kiwira coal mine, and whether Mssrs. Mkapa and Yona can be
charged with corruption for the way in which they procured the coal
mine while they were in office ‘Mkapa, Yona in line for yet another
big payday,’ (This Day, 24th July), ‘Kiwira: Minister clears Mkapa’ (The
Citizen, 24th July).
Mining: North Mara Water Pollution
The North Mara Gold Mine has come under pressure to close
after reports of human and cattle deaths from drinking polluted
water exploded in the media in June. It appears that toxic waste
from mining activities has been spilling into the Tigithe river,
which then empties into lake Victoria. Lobbying by environmental
and human rights groups succeeded in getting the issue into the
public domain: ‘45 wadaiwa kufa sumu mgodi wa Barrick Mara’
[45 claimed to have died of poisoning in Barrick’s North Mara
gold mine] (Nipashe, 7th July), ‘Govt Must act on North Mara Gold
Mine now’ (The African, 1st July), ‘Call for Bunge to probe North
Mara gold mine deaths timely’ (This Day, 1st July), ‘Government
under pressure to close down Barrick mine.’ (This Day, 9th July).
National Environmental Management Council (NEMC) and
researchers from the Universtiy of Dar es Salaam recommendations
suggest that there may indeed be some cause for concern: ‘NEMC:
close or relocate North Mara Gold Mine’ (The Guardian, 9th July),
‘Independent reserachers detect high levels of pollution around
North Mara gold mine’ (This Day, 10th July), ‘MP: close down North
Mara mine’ (Daily News, 28th July).
Budget 2009/2010: Ministry of Infrastructure Budget hiccup.
Anthony Diallo (CCM- Ilemela) and three other CCM Members
of Parliament held up the Ministry of Insfrastructure budget vote.
Their main concern was that the government had dropped some
long-term road construction plans in favor of newer projects:
‘MP blocks endorsement of Infrastructure budget’ (The Guardian,
3rd July), ‘Diallo akwamisha bajeti ya barabara’ [Diallo impedes road
budget] (Mwananchi, 3rd July). After a couple days of negotiation
the government succeeded in bringing its MPs back in line and
passed the Ministry’s budget without changes, although there was a
commitment made to source funds to invest in at least one project:
‘Roads budget gets the nod’ (The Guardian on Sunday, 5th July).
Infrastructure: Tanesco housing scandal
Members of Parliament challenged the national power company
to improve its service and speed up electrification after hearing a
presentation on the country’s Power System Master Plan in Dodoma.
One major complaint was that the Masterplan only promised 75%
electification in 2033- a timeframe that underwhelmed legislators:
‘Wabunge waikatalia Tanesco’ [Parliamentarians say no to Tanesco]
(Nipashe, 13th July), ‘Tanesco to seek further power tariff hikes’
(This Day, 21st July). Yet the financially beleaguered utility company
was caught with its hand in the till when it emerged that 1.4 bn/-
had been spent renovating seven houses for company executives:
‘Tanesco in spotlight over houses scandal’ (The Citizen, 28th July),
‘Ndassa alipua Tanesco’ [Ndassa takes on Tanesco] (Mtanzania, 28th
July), ‘State forms team to probe Tanesco’ (The Citizen, 29th July).

Watch Word: On power...
From The Citizen
“The public mistrust has greatly impaired the performance of the mine”-
Minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr. William Ngeleja, reading a
statement on the Government’s decision to take over and run Kiwira Coal
and Power Limited, the company formerly known as Kiwira Coal Mine
Ltd., to which former president Mr. Benjamin Mkapa and former Minister
of Finance Mr. Daniel Yona were linked. ‘Kiwira: Minister clears Mkapa’
(24th July)
“It is a parliamentary affair. I can’t say anything. It is for the Energy
Minister to comment” – Dr Idris Rashid, Tanesco MD, when asked about
the alleged misuse of funds to renovate Tanesco executives’ houses. ‘Tanesco
in spotlight over houses scandal’ (28th July).
“There is no evidence which demonstrates that the officials failed to use their
expertise to duly advise the Government in the entire process pertaining to
the power generating contract” – The Implementation of the Parliamentary
Directives Report read by Dep. Minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr.
Adam Malima, clearing Attorney General Mr. Johnson Mwanyika, PCCB
Director General Mr. Edward Hosea and former Prime Minister Mr.
Edward Lowassa of any wrongdoing in the Richmond affair. ‘Richmond
report clears Lowassa’ (26th July)
Business Notes
The Citizen: Tackling unemployment- The Government announced
that it has created 1,271,923 jobs since the present administration
came into power in 2005, which is far in excess of the million
jobs that it promised to deliver by 2010. Of those jobs, 93%
came from the private sector. Youth employed in the agricultural
sector were not counted. Nevertheless, youth employment is a
problem that has hardly been tackled by this effort. According
to the Shadow Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth
Development, 800,000 young Tanzanians join the labour marked
every year. High unemployment rates are creating friction with
visible immigrant populations as Tanzanians seek to protect jobs.
(7th July).
Daily News: The High Cost of Cheap Fakes- East Africa may be losing
USD 500 million per year in tex revenues thanks to counterfeit
products, according to a report released by the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Speaking
at an intellectual property rights workshop in Dar es Salaam,
EAC consultant Mr. William Maema pointed out that Tanzania
is the only EAC country that has an anti-counterfeiting law in
place. However, corruption gets in the way of implementing
the legislation. As the Community moves towards the full
implementation of the Customs Union in January of 2010, the
EAC Secretariat is putting together Intellectual Property Rights
policies that will have to contend with a globalized world that is
hostile to import restrictions. (22nd July)
The African: Bank M swells to more than twice its previous size- Bank
M Limited has recorded growth in its balance sheet of 140%
at the end of the 2008/2009 fiscal year. It closed 2008 with a
balance sheet of 42.3 bn/- shillings last year and this year the
figure is at 100 bn/-. Similarly, Bank M has grown its deposits
SERENGETI ADVISERS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY JUILY, 2009
3
by 165% and its Loans and advances by 130%. Bank M credits
this performance largely to its customer service initiatives: by
offering 8am- 8pm banking seven days a week as well as fast
domestic electronic money transfers, the Bank has made itself
attractive to small business customers. (28th July).
The Citizen: Affirmative Finance- The Tanzania Women’s Bank
(TWB) opened in a soft launch at the end of the month. Starting
with capital to the tune of 2.9 billion TShs- 2.1 billion of which
came from government coffers- the bank aims at providing
women with services in a sector in which they have been under-
represented due to access constraints amongst other issues. Other
marginal groups will also be targeted by the Tanzania Women’s
Bank. (29th July)
The Guardian: Make a call, grow the economy- According to an
interview with Vodacom CEO Mr. Pieter Uys, studies have
indicated that there is a direct correlation between mobile phone
penetration and Gross Domestic Product growth. Apparently,
for every 10% additional penetration of mobile telephony there
is a corresponding 0.8-1.8% increase in the GDP. (31st July)
Inbox:
Dear Serengeti Team,
I must say, there is no other publication out in Tanzania that
manages to walk the fine line between rigorous analysis and an
entertaining read such as yours! I am, and am sure, will continue
to be impressed! Thank you.
Adam-Maliq Walter Muro
St. Paul, Minnesota
On Air:
(Saturday, East Africa TV do the Bongo
Movies show!)
Bongo Movies
Like any late-comer into the game, Tanzania’s fledgeling movie
industry is at liberty to take its influences from a variety of ‘Woods.’
Many films are a combination of kitchen sink drama, Nollywood
and Hollywood aspiration, but thankfully no Bollywoodesque
song-and-dance routines..yet. Bongo Movies, hosted by Joyce
Keria Nkongo, is a program for Tanzanian film enthusiasts. It
covers in some depth an industry which is becoming as vigorous
and prolific as the Bongo Flava wave. The quality of local films,
their marketability outside of the country, and the paucity of
trained industry workers and professional actors are some of the
recent topics covered in this program, which combines a tangible
love for Tanzania’s movie makers with candid examinations of
their limitations.
Highlights: smart and entertaining industry news, fresh editing,
great interviews
Lowlights: Half-hour format
Channel: EATV Channel 5
Day: Wednesday 21:30-22:00, Sunday 18:00-18:30 (rpt)
4
Kadhi Courts
Main
During the 2005 election campaign, CCM
Story included in its manifesto a promise that, should
they return to government, they would get to work
on establishing Islamic Courts in the country. Two
years later, Tanzanian Muslims are still waiting for this pledge to be
fulfilled. In his budget presentation, the Minister for Constitutional
Affairs and Justice, Mr. Mathias Chikawa, announced that while
the government has been trying to incorporate ‘Islamic principles’
into existing laws, Kadhi courts did not feature in the government’s
agenda, ‘Chikawe: Kadhi courts not in the offing’ (The Citizen,
1st July).
This statement provoked an angry reaction from the Islamic
community with some accusing the government of flip-flopping
on its campaign promise, ‘Mahakama Kadhi yakoroga Waislamu’
[Muslims stirred by Kadhi court issue] (Mwananchi, 2nd July).
The Tanzania Muslim Council threatened CCM with electoral
consequences, ‘Bakwata: No courts, no votes for CCM’ (The
Citizen, 3rd July). During a Parliament question and answer session,
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda told legislators that his government
would not be pressurized, especially since the issue may lead
to divisive debates in the country, ‘Shinikizo lisitumike – Pinda’
[Don’t use pressure - Pinda] (Uhuru, 3rd July). Nevertheless,
Muslim organizations maintained their push for what they believe
to be a just demand with plans to protest against the government’s
decision, ‘Waislamu kudai zaidi Mahakama ya Kadhi’ [Muslims
will continue to demand Kadhi court] (Mwananchi, 4th July).
While publicly demonstrating resolve, privately senior figures
within CCM were concerned that the groundswell of anger
amongst Muslims may cost the party in the local elections to be
held later this year, ‘Viongozi CCM wahaha, wajadili BAKWATA’
[CCM leaders worried, discuss BAKWATA] (Majira Jumapili, 5th July).
Such fears proved well founded after news broke that leaders
within the Muslim community were mobilizing for nationwide
protests, ‘Mtikisiko’ [Earthquake] (Majira, 6th July) and ‘Masheikh
400 waanza dua kuwalaani waliowahadaa’ [400 Sheikhs to start
prayers cursing those who betrayed them] (Mwananchi, 6th July).
The government, called what appeared to be a truce by announcing
the formation of a joint committee of Muslim leaders and civil
servant officials to find ways to resolve the issue, ‘Team to look
into Kadhi’s courts’ (The Citizen, 7th July). This news came
following a meeting between the PM and influential sheikhs in
the country, after which Mufti Issa bin Shaaban Simba urged his
fellow Muslims to be patient and not allow anger to govern their
decisions, ‘Mufti: Jazba isitawale Mahakama ya Kadhi’ [Mufti:
Emotion should not drive the debate over Kadhi Court] (Uhuru,
7th July).
In Parliament, Mrs. Mgeni Kadida (Special Seats – CUF) urged
the government to expedite the process of establishing Kadhi
Court, arguing that such a court would protect women’s rights,
‘Mahakama ya Kadhi italinda wanawake’ [Kadhi Court will
protect women] (Majira, 10th July).
Meanwhile, the European Union injected itself into the middle
of the Kadhi debate after the head of the EU Commission in
the country, Ambassador Tim Clarke, implored the government
to remember the secular foundations laid down by Father of the
Nation Mwalimu Nyerere when contemplating the Kadhi issue,
‘EU yatolea kauli Mahakama ya Kadhi [EU gives its opinion on Kadhi
Court] (Tanzania Daima, 11th July). Ambassador Clarke went on
to say that he hopes Tanzanians will retain the strict separation
of Church and State as it was envisioned by Mwalimu Nyerere,
for it has served the country well making it the beacon of peace
in the region.
SERENGETI ADVISERS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY JUILY, 2009
Speaking at a campaign rally in Mwanza, Civic United Front
(CUF) Chairman Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba attacked President
Kikwete, saying that his government’s u-turn led to the recent
rancorous and divisive tone on the Kadhi courts’ issue, “‘CCM
imehadaa Waislamu Mahakama ya Kadhi’” [CCM deceived
Muslims on Kadhi Courts] (Mwananchi, 13th July). Nevertheless,
the government held firm and reiterated its commitment to work
with Muslim leaders to resolve the Kadhi Courts issue amicably,
‘PM clarifies on Kadhi courts’ (Daily News, 17th July). Parliament
continued to be rocked by debate, with several MPs warning
against the inclusion of religion in legal matters arguing that such a
decision could lead to a Rwanda-style bloodshed, ‘Udini watikisa
Bunge’ [Religion rocks Parliament] (Mtanzania Jumapili, 19th
July). As another diplomat advised against the establishment of
Kadhi Courts, ‘Balozi wa Kenya aonya uanzishaji Mahakama
ya Kadhi’ [Kenya’s Ambassador warns against the formation of
Kadhi Courts] (Mwananchi, 22nd July), some senior figures within
CCM threw gasoline onto the fire, telling reporters that those
who read into the 2005 election manifesto a promise to establish
Kadhi courts were confused and in the process they revealed the
divisions this issue has exposed within the party itself, ‘Msekwa,
Makamba waibuka’ [Msekwa, Makamba emerge] (Majira, 23rd
July).
What the commentators said…
CCM cannot afford to take for granted the level of disquiet
that its u-turn on the Kadhi Courts issue has generated because
‘reneg[ing] on their promise [would risk] losing massively at the
next elections,’ said Alfred Ngotezi in the Sunday News (5th July).
Is the Church behind the government’s dithering on this? They
better not be as ‘Christians…have no reason or mandate to get
involved in this matter.’ The notion that such a court would create
divisions amongst the different religious communities is without
evidence. Both Kenya and Uganda have such a system and ‘we
have never heard of any substantial acrimony pitting M[u]slims
and Christians in these countries.’
This is another instant of our government avoiding its
responsibilities of finding solutions to the fundamental questions
facing the country, wrote Tumaini Makene in Majira (8th July).
All sides involved in this debate need to take a step back and
discuss the issue more broadly than in the simplistic way they
have done thus far, ‘it will be good if both sides, those who want
the establishment of Kadhi Courts and those skeptical of it, to
explain a few things: What does a Kadhi Court mean, what are
it’s functions [and] what problems, if any, will be caused by a
Kadhi Court to those who are not Muslims?’ These are a few of
the issues that a serious conversation about Kadhi Courts need
to elucidate on and it is vital that the government address this
issue once and for all before the country can move on to the
other problems facing us.
Hawra Shamte pointed out in Mwananchi, the responsibility for
establishing a Kadhi Court lies with the Muslims themselves and
not the state (22nd July). ‘Personally, I agree 100% with the Prime
Minister, since it is clear that if the government forms such a court,
inevitably it will be considered an institution of the State and less
a Muslim one,’ she wrote. Muslims need to stop pointing fingers
at others for their problems. Yes, there is a need for a Kadhi Court
but ‘Muslims themselves need to establish and lead them and only
ask the government to recognize their legality,’ she concluded.
 5
July News
Week 1: 1 - 7 July

HEADLINES English Swahili Totals Appearances Ranking

Kadhi Court Quarrel 8 32 40 7 1
Biharamulo Election 6 25 31 4 2
TICTS/TRL Issue 11 10 21 3 3
Infrastructure Budget 4 17 21 3 4
Ex-Mkapa/Kiwira Mine Issue 2 4 6 2 5
Other Stories 74 64 138
Total 105 152 257

Week 2: 8 - 14 July

HEADLINES English Swahili Total s Appearances Ranking

Tourism Budget 6 14 20 2 1
Z’Bar Oil/Union Matter 6 9 15 4 2
North Mara Scandal 8 6 14 3 3
ID’s Project/Masha’s Budget 2 9 11 3 4
Yemen Air Crash 6 5 11 2 5
Other Stories 81 116 197
Total 109 159 268

Week 3: 15 - 21 July

HEADLINES English Swahili Total s Appearances Ranking

Church Document Issue 5 19 24 4 1
Kadhi Court Quarrel 3 17 20 3 2
Kyela/Ukonga Police Violence 2 11 13 2 3
Phone Voucher Prices 5 3 8 2 4
New Media Bill 3 5 8 2 5
Other Stories 89 92 181
Total 107 147 254

Week 4: 22 - 30 July

HEADLINES English Swahili Total s Appearances Ranking

Richmond Scam 8 23 31 5 1
Church Document Issue 4 25 29 6 2
Ex-Mkapa/Kiwira Mine Issue 10 16 26 3 3
Tanga/Iringa Accidents 4 11 15 2 4
Z’Bar Oil/Union Matter 3 8 11 2 5
Others Stories 114 141 255
Total 143 224 367

SERENGETI ADVISERS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY JUILY, 2009

6

July-09 Top Ten stories

Number of Headlines Headline Share (Percentage) Attention Span Index

No Kadhi Court 71 6.2 14

The Catholic lobby 53 4.6 10
Biharamulo by-election 34 3.0 5
Richmond clearances 31 2.7 5
TICTS/TRL contracts 30 2.6 6
Z’Bar Oil and the Union 26 2.3 6
Kiwira Coal Mine 24 2.1 5
North Mara pollution 22 1.9 4
Infrastructure budget hiccup 21 1.8 3
Tanesco housing scandal 15 1.3 3
Other Stories 819 71.5

Top TenTop
TOTAL Stories Ten Headline
Stories Stories Headline
Share Share
1146

Top Ten Stories Headline Share

No Kadhi Court
No Kadhi Court
The Catholic lobby
The Catholic lobby
No Kadhi Court
Biharamulo by-election
The Catholic lobby
Biharamulo by-election
Richmond clearances
Biharamulo by-election
Richmond clearances
Richmond clearances
TICTS/TRL contracts
TICTS/TRL contracts
TICTS/TRL contracts
Z'Bar Oil and the Union
Z'Bar Oil and the Union
Z'Bar Kiwira
Oil and the
Coal Mine Union
Kiwira Coal Mine
North Mara pollution
Kiwira Coal Mine
North
Infrastructure budget hiccup Mara pollution
NorthTanesco
Mara housing
pollution
scandal
Infrastructure budget hiccup
Other Stories
Infrastructure budget hiccup
Tanesco housing scandal
Tanesco housing scandal
Other Stories
Other Stories

Methodology
Attention Span Index
The top five weekly stories and top ten
stories of the month are extracted from
a survey of headlines in 17 newspapers:
No Kadhi Court 5 English dailies, 2 English weeklies
The Catholic lobby (one regional), 7 Kiswahili dailies, and 3
Biharamulo by-election Kiswahili weeklies. Number of headlines
surveyed in July: 1146.
Richmond clearances

TICTS/TRL contracts

Z'Bar Oil and the Union

Kiwira Coal Mine

North Mara pollution

Infrastructure budget hiccup

Tanesco housing scandal

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Days in the News

SERENGETI ADVISERS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY JUILY, 2009


Yellow Couch
The Sophisticate and the
Simpletons
If an extra-terrestrial being landed on any of the large metropoli in
East Africa and picked up a copy of The EastAfrican, what might it learn
about the region? It would inevitably encounter a myriad of stories
depicting a people grappling with the challenges that are typical of
developing nations: entrenched institutional corruption, an ageing
political elite with a paradoxically strong grip on power, struggles
towards economic freedom, attempts at deeper co-operation with
regional neighbours, and accounts of creative energies dedicated at
rising above the brutal reality of poverty and the humiliation of
being indebted to distant and more powerful benefactors. But the
extra-terrestrial visitor will also learn about the vibrant culture that
characterizes this region, and its immense talents in sports. All in all,
The EastAfrican will give our visitor a pretty good, general, sense of
what the East African region is about.
As the saying goes, however, the devil lies in the details. What sort
of impression, specifically, will the visitor get of the countries that
make up the main subject of this grand weekly newspaper, The
EastAfrican? Take Tanzania.
In July’s four editions of the paper, three of its front-page stories
about Tanzania cover a failed privatization deal [‘Canadian firm
finally pulls out of $5 million TTCL contract’ (6th July)], a faltering
public policy scheme [‘Political power plays derail govt project to
issue identity cards’ (13th July)] and a judicial system seemingly
hostile to business [‘Breaking The Bank: Dar Appeal Court in
Huge Award Against EADB’ (20th July)].
Before proceeding, it is important to note that these articles are
finely written, well balanced and display the high level of journalistic
rigor that is characteristic of this newspaper, notwithstanding its
sometimes irritating over reliance on anonymous sources. Despite
this, the narrative that emerges from these articles is that of a
Tanzania that is commercially incompetent, politically inept and a
jungle in which any would be-investor can prowl in at liberty. This
picture meshes in nicely with the worldview of Mr. Karl Lyimo,
the lone Tanzanian columnist in the op-ed section, who week after
week works hard to advance the thesis that Tanzania may be the
most inhospitable place on earth for human existence. The alien
visitor would be forgiven for believing that too.
This is not to say that there are never any positive stories about
Tanzania in The EastAfrican. Sometimes there may even be more
than one article pointing to some palatable feature about the
country. But this is not standard practice. It may well be the case
that Tanzania is indeed a rather backward, uncivilized, banana
republic of a place. There are times when even the Yellow Couch
has expressed sympathy for that view. But is that all? Surely there
must be some redeeming feature about the country, otherwise
the suicide rate here would surely equal that of Lithuania.
SERENGETI ADVISERS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY JUILY, 2009
7
Compare, for instance, the kind of image of Kenya that emanates
from The East African to that of its southern neighbour, Tanzania.
In addition to stories about a gridlocked government [‘Kenya going
the Somalia way? Apparently yes’ (6th July)], the crisis in education
[‘Kenya’s education sector scores poorly on all fronts’ (13th July)] and
corruption [‘US boosts anti-graft book as smug Kenya govt looks
on’ (27th July)], you will find long features that wax lyrical about a
flourishing cultural milieu.
A weekly arts column by Frank Whalley, essays by Betty Caplan
about the vibrant literary scene regularly appear alongside the
more critical political pieces in the pages of the newspaper. All
this works to construct a more complex and nuanced picture of
the country, portraying it as more than its seemingly entrenched
political and institutional problems.
Why is it the case then that Tanzania, and for that matter all the
other countries in the region, are not showered with the same kind
of coverage that Kenya enjoys? Are the Rwandese merely political
animals, clueless about culture and devoid of any artistic sensibilities
worth writing about? Are there no writers and poets in Uganda?
Where are the regular features about exhibitions, and essays about
literary culture in Tanzania? Only the editors of The EastAfrican can
provide definitive answers to these questions. From regular reading
of the cultural coverage in the paper, it appears that The EastAfrican
is very much a Kenya-centric publication, and its portrayal of
the rest of the region as being made up of one-dimensional,
unsophisticated backwaters is inadequate. If you are going to name
yourself a regional publication then cover that region to its fullest
extent: socially, politically, economically, and culturally. Otherwise,
alien visitors reading such a publication will tend to believe that
Kenya has a monopoly on everything that is cultivated about East
Africa. Surely, that’s not what folks at The EastAfrican want people
to believe. Or do they?
8
At Leisure:
A Glance at the Sunday Columns
The Sinner: - Who wants their leaders to be held accountable for
crimes against humanity? Apparently Africans do not, according
to Alfred Ngotezi. “The AU’s unflinching support for al Bashir is
the optimal answer to Luis Moreno Ocampo’s outrageous audacity
against the continent” claims Mr. Ngotezi, who points out that
the International Criminal Court’s record brands it as a racist
institution which has Africa firmly in its cross-hairs because it has
to date indicted 13 high-ranking African officials while turning
a blind eye to hot spots such as the Middle East and Ireland. As
such, the AU’s decision to reject al Bashir’s indictment is a strong
statement of of Pan-African leadership and dignity… ‘Thinking
Out Loud: AU’s slap on International Criminal Court overdue’
(Sunday News, 12th July).
The Fallen Saint:- Evarist Kagaruki, on the other hand, sees
some value in the ICC and turns his criticism against African
presidents: “They are crying fourl over Bashir’s indictment (and
even feeling pity for him) not because they think he isinnocent,
but basically because they fear the ‘dangerous’ legal precedent
set by the ICC.” However, Mr. Kagaruki offers this historically
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SERENGETI ADVISERS ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY JUILY, 2009
suspect justification for his support of the ICC: “in Europe,
unlike here in Africa, the idea that crimes like genocide and
ethnic cleansing should go unpunished was totally unacceptable
[…] That is why they have the moral authority to tell us that al
Bashir must not (cannot) be let off the hook.” ‘Hard Talk: The
International Criminal Court can end the culture of impunity in
Africa’ (Sunday Citizen, 19th July).
The Crusader: - “What’s needed is to publish an independent
assessment, audit or whatever.” Insists Karl Lyimo, in order to
gauge the benefits to Tanzania accrued from such intenational
meetings as last year’s Leon Sullivan Summit. “Tanzania has hosted
or organized a zillion investment forums which start off with a
bang, and invariably end with a whimper” yet it is hard to say for
sure how much money may have been generated from them in
terms of investment. Perhaps the hospitality industry is better
furnished to answer Mr. Lyimo’s questions than the institutions
that he singled out- the Tanzania Investment Center. ‘Book, Bell
and Candle: Remember that Sullivan Summit in Arusha? I do!’
(Sunday Citizen, 19th July).
We would like to acknowledge the kind sponsorship of
Minesite Tanzania Limited