CORPORATE FINANCE
ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY
MEDIA REPORT: OCTOBER 2009
October was a busy month - the countrywide local elections occupied
their attention for a while and so did the back and forth between
parliament and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau
(PCCB). Old stories made a comeback with the Liyumba case, Radar
and Richmond scandal all making the top ten stories of the month.
On a more somber note, the country commemorated ten years
since the death of former President Julius Kambarage Nyerere. In
Headline News Analysis
Thirty percent of the top stories this month were old news re-entering
the headlines, indicate a willingness on the print media’s part to follow
up on stories. The radar ‘scam’ for example made it on to the top ten
mainly due to the relentless coverage it received on the front pages of
This Day. On the other hand, the Richmond story seemed to garner a
lot more column inches in the Kiswahili press than the English papers,
where the he-said, she said approach is part of the tabloid sensibility
of the former.
Top-Ranking Headline Stories
Politics: Local Government Elections
Controversy marred the beginning of the campaign for countrywide
local government elections after the opposition Civic United Front
(CUF) threatened to go to court to block the voter registration process,
claiming that a new electoral law was unfairly benefitting the ruling
party. In Dar es Salaam, violent altercations at a poll station left four
people injured, ‘Vurugu zazuka uandikishaji wapigakura’ [Fights break
out during voter registration] (Mwananchi, 5th October). These incidents
did nothing to puncture Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s (CCM) confidence
‘Wagombe 24, 544 CCM hawana upinzani’ [24, 544 CCM candidates
unopposed] (Uhuru, 10th October). A few days later, it was announced
that the controversial new electoral law will demand voters write down
their choices as opposed to simply ticking them, a radical departure
from previous voting practices. This may be risky, as it was reported that
some opposition candidates were struggling to get on the ballot due to
illiteracy, ‘Wagombea wa CUF wakwama’ [CUF candidates stuck] (Uhuru,
12th October). After the Daily News deemed the election a ‘major
test for democracy’, the country appeared to have failed it, following
news that polls nationwide were mired in violence and irregularities,
‘Uchanguzi wa Mitaa: Ngumi, vurugu, wizi wa kura’ [Local Elections:
Fights, riots, vote wringing] (Majira, 26th October). Nevertheless, this did
not stop the President from declaring his party deserving winners,
‘JK: CCM victory in civic elections unquestionable’ (The Guardian,
31st October).
Politics: PCCB versus Parliament
The Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB)
struggled to get Members of Parliament to co-operate with its
investigation into alleged expenses fraud. Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe
(CCM- Kyela) refused to be interviewed by the body, accusing
them of a lack of credibility and competence in such matters,
‘Meet PCCB? No way, says Dr. Mwakyembe’ (The Guardian,
28th October). He went on to say that the timing of such a move
was curious especially since the government was getting ready to
announce a report on implementation of Bunge resolutions on the
Richmond scandal one of which recommends the removal from
his post of Dr. Edward Hosea, the PCCB Director General.
MEDIA
NOVEMBER 2009
Business Notes, a brewery complained of unfair competition, the
government ended a monopoly, the private sector lamented the cost
of powerlessness and a recent parliamentary act promises a new dawn
for farmers. Finally, Yellow Couch is pleased to welcome its first guest
writer - Nadir Tharani, a Director of Tharani Associates Ltd., an
architectural firm in Dar es Salaam, muses on the role of individual
action in making Dar a pleasant city to live in.
Nevertheless, the PCCB Director of Communications insisted that
nobody was above the law, and that PCCB will focus its scrutiny on
anyone involved in corruption including members of parliament,
‘Mwakyembe says No to PCCB’ (Daily News, 28th October). The debate
continued with some in the legal community supporting PCCB efforts
at investigating possible corruption practices of some MPs while
others while others said they saw “no harm” in legislators accepting
allowances when visiting various institutions, ‘Legal experts divided
on PCCB mandate’ (The Guardian, 29th October). Meanwhile, Hilal K.
Sued was unmoved by PCCB’s claims and accused Dr. Hosea of using
his position to settle old scores against Dr. Mwakyembe and others
who had judged him culpable in the Richmond scam, ‘PCCB and the
knack of creating storms in teacups’ (The African, 31st October).
Politics: A Tired President
President Jakaya Kikwete was forced to take a ten minute break in the
middle of a speech he was giving during the centenary celebrations of
the Africa Inland Church (AICT) at Mwanza. State House was quick
to release a statement that there was nothing serious afflicting the
President ‘Ikulu: No health concern for JK’ (Daily News, 5th October).
Reports in the media were confusing with some outlets suggesting that
Mr. Kikwete had collapsed, ‘Fatigue “to blame over JK collapse”’ (The
Citizen, 5th October), while others implied that he had only felt weak and
took a moment before continuing with his remarks, ‘Kikwete aishiwa
nguvu akihutubia’ [Kikwete loses strength in the middle of speech] (Majira,
5th October). State House took the unprecedented step of having
Mr. Kikwete personal physician address reporters who informed that
there was nothing to worry about, ‘Neck problems the only problem
with JK’s health – doc [sic]’ (The Guardian, 9th October).
History: Nyerere’s passing – Commemorating a decade
The Tanzanian community and the University of Edinburgh
have announced plans to organize a conference in November to
commemorate the life of former President and ‘Father of the Nation’
Julius Nyerere. In Tanzania, the Bank of Tanzania with help from the
Prime Minister organized a fundraiser for the Nyerere Scholarship
Fund aimed at women who excel in mathematics and the sciences,
‘400m/- raised for Nyerere memorial scholarship fund’ (Daily News,
13th October), ‘Conference in UK to remember Nyerere’ (The African,
6th October). However as the date marking the anniversary of Mr.
Nyerere’s death neared, issues of leadership and governing dominated
the coverage, ‘The leadership question’ (The Citizen, 14th October),
“Leadership failing Nyerere’s legacy” (The Guardian, 14th October).
Speaking at Nyerere’s birthplace in Butiama, President Kikwete
challenged the naysayers forcefully arguing that his leadership is
faithfully carrying the “Father of the Nation” torch, ‘Nyerere’s legacy
shall never die’ (This Day, 15th October). The enduring power of Mr.
Nyerere was fully evident as political parties scrambled to claim him

as their own, ‘Wana CCM, Chadema wamgombea Nyerere’ [CCM,
Chadema fight to own Nyerere] (Tanzania Daima, 15th October).
Corruption: The Liyumba Case
The re-trial of former Director of Administration and Human
Resources at the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) was front page news as the
hearing date approached, ‘Mashahidi kesi ya Liyumba kujulikana leo’
[Witnesses in Liyumba’s case to be named today] (Uhuru, 1st October). A day
later it became clear that the witness list included prominent people
from the BoT, ‘Liyumba case: Prosecution witnesses include board
members, EPA suspect’ (This Day, 2nd October). As the re-trial got
underway, the prosecution had to contend with this bit of bad news,
‘Liyumba’s case: State witness falls ill’ (The African, 20th October).
Things went from bad to worse following another unwelcom surprise,
‘Shahidi wa serikali amtetea Liyumba’ [State witness defends Liyumba]
(Mwananchi, 23rd October). This, however, did not deter the State
from their pushing their case with another witness, a Prevention and
Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) investigator, ‘Liyumba
cashed in on loopholes, court hears’ (The Guardian, 23rd October).
Corruption: The Radar Scandal
The scandal regarding the Tanzanian’s government’s decision to
buy Tshs 58bn/- worth of radar equipment re-surfaced onto the
front pages after a UK newspaper reported that the sellers, the
British arms dealers BAE, were about to refuse a plea deal on
the corruption allegations surrounding the deal, ‘BAE to defy
ultimatum on radar deal confession?’ (This Day, 1st October). As
a result of a break down of talks between the British Attorney
General and lawyers from BAE, the UK’s Serious Fraud Office
is preparing to press ahead with charges against the world’s
second largest defense contractor, ‘SFO due to prosecute BAE
over contentious radar sale’ (The Guardian, 2nd October) and
‘Sh 15.6bn radar scam: Trial and whole truth’ (The Citizen, 2nd
October). While the SFO was moving forward on charges against
the principle suspects, Tanzania’s Prevention and Combating
Corruption Bureau (PCCB) was preparing to launch its own
charges against the Tanzanian suspects, ‘PCCB waiting in the
wings’ (This Day, 2nd October).
This news prompted questions: ‘Radar scam: Will Chenge face trial
in London?’ (Sunday Citizen, 4th October). This Day, which has been
relentless in the reporting of this story obtained a copy of SFO case
giving a never before seen insight into the direction of the investigation,
‘Contents of the radar case file’ (This Day, 5th October). Soon after
this story broke, ‘BAE now says it’s ready to settle out of court’ (This
Day, 6th October). Nevertheless, new revelations kept coming out,
‘BoT gold reserves financed radar deal’ (This Day, 6th October). Even
though there were some reports of a plea bargain agreement between
the UK government and BAE, it seemed unlikely that SFO would
suspend its investigation, ‘UK widens radar probe’ (This Day, 13th
October). But hopes of a quick resolution were soon dashed, ‘Radar
case hit by more delays’ (This Day, 28th October).
International Affairs: The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Summit
For the first time since the formation of the Commonwealth
in 1911, Tanzania got a chance to host the Commonwealth
Parliamentary Association, (The Guardian, 2nd October). In his speech
to the conference, which was held in Arusha, President Kikwete
challenged the 850 Members of Parliament present from across the
commonwealth that they ought to engage full on with the twenty first
century challenges afflicting their nations that include climate change
and poverty, ‘JK aipa changamoto CPA’ [JK challenges CPA] (Tanzania
Daima, 3rd October). During the conference the parliamentarians
agreed on resolutions against coalition governments and for trade
SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA
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liberalization, ‘CPA Likely To Take Tough Stance On Coalition Govts’
(The Guardian, 5th October), ‘CPA endorses trade liberalisations’ (Daily
News, 6th October).
Corruption: The Richmond Scandal
A meeting called by the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and
Minerals to deliberate on the implementation report on the Richmond
issue had to be cancelled after the Minister of Energy failed to
attend, ‘Richmond scam talks postponed, minister a no show’ (The
Guardian, 7th October). The decision by the government not to send
arepresentative was viewed unfavorably by the committee, ‘Richmond,
Loliondo kaa la moto kwa serikali’ [Government in hot seat on Richmond,
Loliondo] (Mwananchi Jumapili, 11th October), ‘Richmond sumu kali
CCM’ [Richmond bitter poison on CCM] (Tanzania Daima, 11th October).
Meanwhile, it was revealed that one of the people allegedly involved
in the scandal had resigned from his position as Secretary General of
the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, ‘Mtuhumia Richmond aachia
ngazi’ [Richmond accused leaves his post] (Mwananchi, 20th October). After
several attempts, ‘Govt. [finally] hand[ed] over Richmond report’ (The
Guardian, 22nd October). Elsewhere, a story surfaced that Richmond
was going through an intense re-branding exercise, an attempt at
negating the difficult public relations issues it faces in Tanzania,
‘Richmond founder eyes more contracts’ (This Day, 29th October).
The US-based firm attacked the parliamentary investigation into its
dealings in Tanzania as being ‘politically motivated’ (This Day, 30th
October).
Health: The Swine Flu Scare
The Swine Flu epidemic reached Tanzania: ‘Govt. confirms 170
swine flu cases recorded’ (Daily News, 2nd October). The fear
of infection seemed even most acute amongst those planning to
travel to Mecca for the pilgrimage, ‘Swine flu scares hajj planners’
(Daily News, 8th October), ‘First swine flu death’ (Sunday Citizen,
11th October). The flu hit Mbulu township in Manyara hardest,
with over 300 cases reported in the area, ‘Swine flu cases flare
up in Mbulu’ (Daily News, 20th October). The Mbulu District
Medical Officer told a reporter that the reason for such sharp
rises in infections may be due to some inspected patients escaping
from hospitals before their treatment were complete, ‘Swine flu
patients flee from hospitals’ (The Citizen, 28th October).
On Air: JAMBO
This morning show is a great start to the day for information
junkies. With news and sports summaries after every half
hour, interviews with newsmakers and a survey of the day’s
newspaper headlines, watching Jambo leaves you fully informed
as you get ready to enter the rough and tumble of your daily
activities.
Highlights: The precise presentation of news, the engaging
anchors and the overall sophistication of the show makes it
the premier morning news show.
Lowlights: The sometime lackadaisical body language of the
anchors, who sometimes jiggle their knees in the middle of an
interview.
Channel: Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC1)
Day: Weekdays, Monday to Friday.
Time: 6am- 9am
OCTOBER 2009

At Leisure:
A glance at the Sunday Columns
It has been ten years since the passing of former President Julius
Kambarage Nyerere and the debate over his legacy remains a topic
of intense focus for commentators. Here are three writers on the
impact of Nyerere’s leadership and his influence.
The Romantic View: There was nothing more exciting for a budding
journalist than the opportunity to cover the Father of the Nation,
Wilson Kaigarula remembers. His exemplary oratorical skills made life
easy for reporters. ‘He had that rare knack for simplifying even such
complex subjects as Gross Domestic Product…So straightforward
and simple he was indeed, that anyone misquoting [him] or distorting
his remarks was summarily written off as a poor reporter.’ He was
an intellectual who abhorred too much intellectualism. He once
rebuked a journalist for using the word paradigm in a question to him,
‘Paradigm maana yake nini? [What is this ‘paradigm’ you are referring to],’
he shot back. His love for simplicity in language reflected his humble
lifestyle. ‘This fact was brought forcefully home during his funeral
at Butiama…ten years ago, many television viewers being pleasantly
shocked at the low-cost houses in the Nyerere household.’ Mwalimu
was tough-talking as he was humorous, he deplored tribalism but
saw nothing wrong in belonging to a tribe; he was charismatic
and always dressed simply. As we commemorate ten years of his
death, Kaigarula wondered if we would ever ‘get the Stepfather of
the Nation. The question remains unanswered to date.’ ‘Journalist
rewinds memory tape ten years after Nyerere’s death’ (The Guardian
on Sunday, 11th October).
The Moderate View: Mwalimu Nyerere is responsible for a lot of
good in this country, though, attempts to canonize him do a disservice
‘to the man, to his people – and, most important, to history,’ writes
Karl Lyimo. Yes, he guided the then Tanganyika to independence and
‘deliver[ed] his people from a life of poverty and greedy capitalism
into a selfless community of share-and-share alike.’ But he also made
fundamental mistakes. He was unable to persuade his fellow leaders
on his policies – especially when it came to the Arusha declaration
and his nationalisation project. He further ‘alienated potential
development partners in the international community, including
the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.’ And when
it came to governance, incompetent managers were rarely brought
to account and instead were ‘kicked upstairs or transferred to other
parastatals.’ Furthermore, his personal choice of successors, Ali
Hassan Mwinyi (1985) and Benjamin Mkapa (1995) proved to be
unsuccessful carriers of his legacy. So, it would seem that, it was
not Mwalimu who had failed but rather those around him who
‘screwed [things] into the ground, reducing [his] socialist experiment
[to] a cruel joke.’ Furthermore, if Mr. Nyerere had a more effective
supporting cast, Tanzania would have become the paradise he hoped
it would be. Sadly, ‘all these players worked to undermine Tanzania’s
developmental efforts at every turn – culminating in the reversal
of the Arusha Declaration by the 1992 Zanzibar Declaration, and
privatization thereafter,’ ‘Mwalimu was only human – he made
mistakes’ (The East African, 5th October).
The Critical View: Mobhare Matinyi offers a more blunt assessment:
Mwalimu Nyerere’s socialist experiment was disastrous for Tanzania
and it’s people. In 1961, when he came to power, ‘peasants were
producing enough to make the country one of the largest exporters
of cash crops in Africa. The country was also rich in minerals, and
had more tourist attractions than any African country.’ Then Nyerere
SERENGETI ADVISERS
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visited China in 1965 and was moved by their villagisation project and
so decided to import that model for his own country. He launched
Ujamaa in 1967 and four years later he persuaded ‘people to organize
themselves in socialist villages and when they dragged their feet, he
coerced them.’ Fifteen years later when Nyerere voluntarily stepped
down in 1985, Tanzania became ‘one of the largest importers of
food in Africa…the contribution of minerals to the GDP [falls] from
10 percent in 1961 to 0.5 percent in the 1980s…[and] the [tourism]
industry was collapsing on its own.’ Throughout it all, ‘he never
listened to the country’s experts who in frustration wrote tonnes of
academic papers’ critical of his economic policies.’ In the process,
he ‘plunged Tanzania into extreme poverty’ turning what was once a
thriving developing nation into one of the highest receivers of foreign
aid per capita in Africa. Asked if Ujamaa was a failure, Mwalimu was
bullish and ‘defended socialism in terms of justice, respect for human
beings, and people-centered developments.’ He went on to conclude,
“So I am not regretting that I tried to build a country based those
principles.” ‘Nyerere and the failed socialist economy’ (The Citizen,
16th October)
Watch Word
“We, in Africa, have no more need of being ‘converted’ to
socialism than we have of being ‘taught’ democracy. Both are
rooted in our past -- in the traditional society which produced
us.”
Julius Kambarage Nyerere, from his book Uhuru na Umoja
(Freedom and Unity): Essays on Socialism, 1967.
“[A] man is developing himself when he grows, or earns, enough
to provide decent conditions for himself and his family; he is
not being developed if someone gives him these things.”
Julius
Kambarage Nyerere, from his book Uhuru na Maendeleo (Freedom
and Development), 1973.
“If real development is to take place, the people have to be
involved.”
Julius Kambarage Nyerere, from his book Uhuru na
Maendeleo (Freedom and Development), 1973.
“To measure a country’s wealth by its gross national product is
to measure things, not satisfactions.”
From a speech written by
Julius Kambarage Nyerere, The Rational Choice given on 2 January
1973 in Khartoum.
“We spoke and acted as if, given the opportunity for self-
government, we would quickly create utopias. Instead injustice,
even tyranny, is rampant.”
Julius Kambarage Nyerere, as quoted
“”
in David Lamb’s The Africans, New York 1985.
MEDIA OCTOBER 2009
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Main Main Story- Power Rationing called for the government to take over the Dowans plant at a
press conference, which predictably generated a lot of headlines
Story ‘Nationalize Dowans plant- Zitto’ (The African, 16th October),
‘Zitto Kabwe: Mitambo ya Dowans itaifishwe’ [Zitto Kabwe: Dowans
generators should be nationalized] (Nipashe, 16th October). The
On the 3rd of the month, Tanesco announced country-wide power government did not express interest in the idea. ‘Serikali yakataa
rationing. This recalled the 2006 power crisis that lasted several kutaifisha Dowans’ [Government declines to nationalize Dowans] (Habari
months and resulted in the controversial Richmond scheme. Leo, 17th October). Another headline generator was Tanesco’s
As Tanzania is dependent on hydroelectric power for the lion’s mid-month announcement that the power rationing would get
share of its energy, this recent power crisis was also precipitated much worse before it got better ‘Makali ya mgao wa umeme
by drought and exacerbated by technical problems and non- yakizidi…Waziri Ngeleja akataa kutaifishwa kwa Dowans’ [As the
productivity at the Songas, Kihansi and Hale power plants. The power shortage grows more acute…Minister Ngeleja refuses to nationalize
rationing was expected to end soon due to the November rains, Dowans] (Nipashe, 17th October).
and the Kihansi power station undergoing repairs ‘Mgawo wa
umeme sasa kuhusisha mikoa yote’ [Power rationing now country-wide]
The newspaper coverage of the power crisis continued in the
(Habari Leo, 4th October).
political vein, to the annoyance of NCCR-Mageuzi Chairman
James Mbatia who wanted the matter to be treated as a technical
The government announced several days later that it was planning
issue rather than a bone of contention between the opposition
to increase the national power supply by over 250 Mega Watts
and the ruling party ‘Umeme usiwe ajenda ya kisiasa’ [Electricity
(MW) over the course of the next year and a half. Deputy Minister
should not be a political issue] (Mtanzania, 19th October), ‘Ngeleja,
for Energy and Minerals Mr. Adam Malima said that the plan
Mbatia waungana kuhusu umeme’ [Ngeleja, Mbatia in agreement
was to purchase a number of turbines to be installed in major
about electricity] (Habari Leo, 19th October).
urban and political centers- Dodoma, Mbeya, Mwanza and Dar
es Salaam- in addition to new power plants coming online ‘Power
supply set to increase’ (The Citizen, 9th October), ‘Experts arrive In due course the papers confirmed that the government was taking
to repair broken Kihansi turbine’ (Daily News, 9th October). some immediate measures to alleviate the power shortage ‘Govt
in serious talks with IPTL’ (The African, 20th October), ‘Switch on
The cost of rationing on business was unwelcome. The Tanzania Dowans, IPTL now, businesses tell government’ (The Citizen, 21st
Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) formed a team to investigate October). State House issued a statement that President Jakaya
the ongoing power shortage, including claims that 100MW were Kikwete had directed the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to
unaccounted for in the national grid, while others considered make sure that the IPTL turbines were switched on as soon as
the effects on Tanzania’s competitiveness in the regional market possible. Steps were taken over the course of the remainder of
‘Private sector to probe electricity rationing impact’ (The Guardian, the month to get the turbines up and running: ‘JK: I have acted
9th October), ‘How will Tanzania cope in EAC Common Market?’ on IPTL’ (The Guardian, 22nd October), ‘Ministers in rush to carry
(Business Times, 9th October). out JK’s orders’ (The Citizen, 23rd October), ‘Give us a week, IPTL
tells Ngeleja’ (The Guardian, 23rd October), ‘Heavy diesel for IPTL
The power rationing and power generation announcements arrives at Dar port’ (The African, 26th October), ‘Tanker offloads
served to raise the ghosts of corruption past when it emerged much awaited IPTL fuel’ (Daily News, 27th October), ‘IPTL to
that 100MW of the announced increase in power might be get fuel supply today’ (The Guardian, 30th October), ‘Court okays
purchased from Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL). IPTL switch-on’ (Daily News, 31st October).
Currently, the government and IPTL are in a legal dispute over
IPTL’s capacity charge; the IPTL turbines have been idle since What the commentators said
2007 ‘Tishio jipya Tanesco’ [New threat to Tanesco] (Mtanzania,
9th October). Members of the Parliamentary Committee on There was universal condemnation of the government’s
Energy and Minerals raised concerns that this latest crisis would performance in the provision of electricity across. Of particular
result in the government purchasing the Dowans generators concern was the perceived intrusion of politicians in a matter that
that were imported by the defunct Richmond Development should be handled by technocrats: “Who is Tanesco being run by,
Company. This would go against the government’s decision politicians or experts from within the company? …while Tanesco’s
last December not to do so. management struggles to find a solution for the power problem,
politicians are intruding and saying what they want” said Dismas
Tanesco’s management was summoned by the Committee to explain Lyissa ‘Iko wapi mikakati thabiti kuimarisha umeme’ [Where are the
how this current power shortage came to be: ‘Mgawo wa umeme concrete plans to improve electricity supply?] (Mwananchi, 15th October).
wamtafuta mchawi’ [Power rationing spurs witch hunt] (Tanzania Daima,
10th October), ‘Tanesco yageuziwa bao’ [Tanesco in hot seat] (Nipashe Makwaia wa Kuhenga was worried about the cost of the
Jumapili, 11th October). Tanesco’s management was absolved of Presidential directive to switch on the IPTL generators- Shs.
accusations of neglect and sabotage. The discussion turned to 23 billion per month. “As alluded to before, it is very much
negotiating with IPTL to generate power again and purchasing possible that those responsible for the import of the electricity
the Dowans generators as these were immediate and accessible production tender in the country especially in the hire of those
solutions ‘Tough times ahead’ (The Citizen, 13th October). generators have everything to gain by picking such a hefty
bill!” ‘Endemic power blackouts: are we a serious people?’ (The
Mr. Zitto Kabwe (Chadema- Kigoma North) subsequently Citizen, 26th October).

SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA OCTOBER 2009


This cynical view of our leaders’ energy policy was echoed by
Revocatus Makaranga, as he recalled that some South African
Investors had been prevented from partnering with the Rufiji
Basin Development Agency on a power generation project
at Stiegler’s Gorge that had to potential to generate 3000 MW:
“Undoubtedly those who interfered with the project saw that it
would not benefit them personally so they killed it. That is just one
example of how the few in power are holding this country back
because of personal greed.” ‘Siasa isichanganywe katika mambo
muhimu ya nchi’ [Politics should not interfere with important national
concerns] (Mtanzania, 25th October).
Business Notes
The African - Unfair Competition - The Chairman of Serengeti Breweries
Limited (SBL), Mark Bomani, has complained that some beer traders
are using dirty tricks to stifle fair competition in the industry. In a
statement responding to a story alleging that some rival beer companies
were involved in the removal of SBL posters in Dar es Salaam, Mr.
Bomani said that his company has instructed its lawyers to present an
official complaint to the Fair Competition Commission (FCC). Mr.
Bomani reiterated SBL’s unflinching support for an environment in
Tanzania that promotes fair competition and deplored monopolist
tendencies (1st October).
5
Inbox
Dear Serengeti Team,
I am a big fan of this publication, with Yellow Couch (YC) being my
favorite part (often saved for last). I write in this case to disagree with
YC and make a case for NGOs supporting content on TV. NGO-
supported programming has played an important role in bringing
many critical issues and promoting debate and discussion about
them through creative. A particularly successful such venture is “Ma
Famille” , a comic soap opera from Cote d’Ivoire that over the years
has explored such topics as violence against women, women’s property
and inheritance rights, polygamy. The show, written by and acted
out by the country’s top comedic actors and variously supported by
different UN agencies, is extremely popular throughout Francophone
Africa. When it airs at 7pm, entire families and neighbourhoods
gather around their TVs to watch, laugh, debate, and discuss. Isn’t
this a good thing to come from a TV show? Our Kenyan neighbours
have a similar production called Makutano Junction. Check it out!
Cynthia Eyakuze
New York

Daily News – The End of a Monopoly – The government’s decision to

end Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS)
monopoly at Dar es Salaam Port by stripping the exclusivity clause
from its contract was welcomed by several members of parliament
who believe the move will lead to better services. The private sector
also welcomed the decision, saying that it will improve efficiency and
lower tariffs which should in turn decrease the cost of doing business
in the country. Nevertheless, other MPs urged the government to go
further and terminate the TICTS contract arguing that the end of
its exclusivity deal would do little to improve matters as the firm still
controlled a majority of berths at the port (7th October).

Business Times – The Cost of Powerlessness – The Confederation of Tanzania

Industries (CTI) warned the government that the ongoing power
rationing is detrimental to the national economy as it has increased
production costs for businesses, which will lead to less profit that will KP: It isn’t unusual these days for a public official to own six
inevitably lead to job losses and a decrease in taxes for the state. The houses and a Vogue...
Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Deputy Commissioner General
said that while it was too early to gauge the impact on government Nyerere’s ghost: Huh? Vogue? What is this Vogue?
revenue of such prolonged powerlessness, it would undoubtedly have
an effect. Dr. Samuel Nyantahe argued that Tanesco’s monopoly on KP: It is a type of luxury car, Sir.
the market has contributed to the problem. The lack of competition
has made the state owned power supplier complacent and the country
has suffered as a result (16th October).

The East African – New law a lift for Farmers – The National Cereal
and Other Produce Bill of 2009 is expected to boost all sectors of
agriculture, especially fruit and vegetable production. The bill, which
will be tabled in Bunge towards the end of the month, will provide for
a new Board of Cereals and Other Produce to supervise production
and marketing of traditional crops. Analysts have welcomed the
formation of such a body. The absence of a mechanism for marketing
agricultural produce within the country and across borders has led
to informal trade, with farmers incurring losses, exacerbating poverty
and hunger in rural Tanzania (26th October).

SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA OCTOBER 2009

 6
OCTOBER NEWS

Week 1: 1-7 October

News Story English Kiswahili Total Appearances Rank

Radar Scam 12 3 15 5 1
JK Speech-CPA Summit 7 8 15 3 2
JK Collapse 3 9 12 3 3
Local Govt Election 4 7 11 2 4
IPTL / Power Crisis 3 7 10 2 5
Other Stories 82 132 214

Total 111 166 277

Week 2: 8-14 October

News Story English Kiswahili Total Appearances Rank

JK Collapse 6 11 17 3 1
IPTL / Power Crisis 7 10 17 3 2
Nyerere’s Memory Day 4 5 9 1 3
Z’Bar Vote Registration 0 8 8 3 4
TRL/ATCL Issue 4 4 8 2 5
Other Stories 86 126 212

Total 107 164 271

Week 3: 15 - 21 October
News Story English Kiswahili Total Appearances Rank

IPTL / Power Crisis 10 24 34 5 1

Kipawa Residents Strike 3 9 12 2 2
Nyerere’s Memory Day 4 6 10 1 3
Mwinyi NEC Chair Committee 4 5 9 1 4
Bunge Auditing 1 5 6 1 5
Other Stories 83 106 189

Total 105 155 260

Week 4: 22 - 31 October
News Story English Kiswahili Total Appearances Rank

IPTL / Power Crisis 23 30 53 8 1

PCCB Probe/Bunge Session 9 21 30 5 2
Local Govt Election 4 16 20 3 3
Richmond Scam 5 9 14 3 4
Liyumba Trial 5 7 12 2 5
Others Stories 103 138 241

Total 147 221 368

SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA OCTOBER 2009

 7

October 2009 Top 10 Stories

Number of Headlines Headlines Share (Percentage) Attention Span

Index
IPTL / Power Crisis 114 9.7 20
Local Govt Election 36 3.1 7
PCCB Probe/Bunge Session 30 2.6 5
JK Collapse 29 2.5 5

Top Ten Stories Headline Share

Nyerere’s Memory Day
Liyumba Trial
Radar Scam
19
18
17
1.6
1.5
1.4
2
4
6
JK Speech-CPA Summit 15 1.3 3
Richmond Scam 14 1.2 3
Swine Flu Issue 10 0.9 3
Other Stories 874 74.3 IPTL / Power Crisis

TOTAL Stories 1176

Local Govt Election

PCCB Probe/Bunge
Session
JK Collapse
IPTL / Power Crisis
Local Government Elections
PCCBNyerere's
Probe / BungeMemory
Session Day
JK Collapse
Nyerere’s Memory Day
Liyumba Trial
Liyumba Trial
Radar Scam
Radar
JK Speech Scam
- CPA Summit
Richmond Scam
Other JK Speech-CPA Summit
Stories
Attention Span Index
Richmond Scam
Attention Span Index

IPTL
IPTL//Power
PowerCrisis
Crisis
Local Government
Local GovtElections
Election
PCCB ProbePCCB
/ Bunge Session …
Probe/Bunge
JKJKCollapse
Collapse
Nyerere’s
Nyerere'sMemory
MemoryDay Day
Liyumba
LiyumbaTrial
Trial
Radar
RadarScam
Scam
JK Speech - CPA Summit
JK Speech-CPA Summit
Richmond
RichmondScam
Scam
Swine
SwineFlu
FluIssue
Issue

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

Days in the News

Days in the News

Methodology
The top five weekly stories and top ten stories of the month are extracted from a survey of
headlines in 17 newspapers: 5 English dailies, 2 English weeklies (one regional), 7 Kiswahili
dailies, and 3 Kiswahili weeklies. Number of headlines surveyed in October: 1176.

SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA OCTOBER 2009

 8

GUEST YELLOW COUCH
Everyone is an Accomplice
by Nadir Tharani
Stroll into a Kempinski lounge, pause at a roadside bar or perch on
any street corner and you can inevitably hear a litany of grievances and
suggestions about life in Dar es salaam, mostly borne out of personal
experiences but often out of imaginings. Here are some: the lack of
sidewalks, street lights, drainage, garbage collection; complaints about
traffic congestion caused by over 350,000 vehicles, pollution (even the
purer diesel we are to have will contain 500 parts of sulphur compared
to 50 in Europe), billboards blocking corner sightlines or the view of
the ocean, mosquitoes, flouting of planning laws, and the demolition
of the old city centre.
Desires fondled include having public squares (for resting, snacking,
eyeing up, reading the paper), promenades, cycle paths, beach
walks, all of which have been aired in the media including The
Guardian and Dar Guide some five years ago. Cynics will suggest
that this whining makes Dar a normal city, that all cities have similar
headaches, adding that this is not Uzungu, thereby forgetting that
Luanda and Maputo have enviable beach promenades, and that
one can walk in well lit, clean, wide streets in Accra. On the other
hand, frustrated residents will insist on some degree of progress,
on the spread of civic sensibilities.
state of Dar es salaam, but most were advocates of neo- liberalism
and flew in consultants to impose this jaded ideology. Everyone is an
accomplice in stoking this cauldron.
This obsession with financial gain also extends to architecture.
Most of the recent major buildings have been designed outside
the country for reasons that not only include the perceived (and
sometimes real) lack of innovation by architects here, and the
capricious urge to imitate buildings seen in a magazine or on a
holiday abroad, but also because architects residing in countries
where the living costs are lower than Dar are satisfied with lower
fees. Many have never even visited the site, resulting in ducts for
pipes having that glorious view of the ocean or the afternoon sun
sizzling the living room. Air conditioners substitute for the breeze.
Like anywhere else, developers’ taste and requirement for returns
conditions what you will see for the next 50 years.
Likewise, architects are selected by public authorities in accordance with
the commandments of the Public Procurement Act; that means that
those submitting the lowest fee proposal win the project, leaving no
room for flair or innovation, or any space for architecture to consider
contiguous issues. In the last instance, money rules, whether it be
grabbing a foot of public land in Sinza, or erecting 14 storied buildings
in Kariako which promote voyeurism as one can peep into the adjacent
neighbour’s bathroom or bedroom across the one metre gap.

Everything, everyone, in a city leans on the other, a multifarious network

Taken in isolation, all these tribulations seem unconnected – yet, at the
of relationships that is a celebration of cause and effect. Garbage
core, there seem to be two interrelated factors at work: money and the
collection requires wide roads so that that extra metre of public land
lack of these civic sensibilities. Those promoting civic responsibilities
grabbed in the suburbs will have to be surrendered. To win Olympic
are often guilty of a complete abdication of civic accountability. Some
medals, that playing field will have to be reinstated. For the clerk or
of those who complain about the intransigence of daladala drivers are
messenger to turn up to work on time or to allow them an opportunity
the ones who do not miss any opportunity to imitate them, and, those
to exercise leisure or to paint, commuting times would have to be
who refuse to employ garbage collectors – even though they nurse the
reduced from the nearly statutory two hours – decentralization in other
latest nokia and harbour rats – await action by the City Council.
words. And so on. A seemingly daunting task but one that is possible –
with planning that extends beyond the mere physical reality and where
Put simply (and without descending into a moral discourse), we all have
the State, which should not neglect the majority, plays a decisive role.
to take responsibility for our actions and the resulting consequences,
and comply with civic laws even when the possibility of enforcement
© Nadir Tharani 2009
is remote. Dar es salaam’s Master Plan of 1968 for the then population
of around 280,000 followed the strictures of the 1920s ideology of
the neighbourhood centre by allowing for markets, playing fields, and
schools within a 20 minute walking distance. In that case, where did
that roundabout in Masaki disappear to, or that area designated for a
market off Kimweri Road, for example? Dedicated cycle paths over
10km in length were also envisaged; but cycling is still one of the most
dangerous pursuits.

Revisions to the plan for the city centre earlier this century partly
superseded this original blueprint. Without any public airing, the
density of the city centre was increased by exploiting the law that only
conserves buildings built in or before 1863. The city centre was then We would like to acknowledge the kind sponsorship
up for grabs and despite a Swedish consultant’s querulous estimation of Minesite Tanzania Limited
that the envisaged redevelopment would result in one million people
entering or leaving the city centre during the rush hours, the demolitions
have continued, propelled by the developers’ greed and the requirement
for the National Housing Corporation to increase its income. Those
who grumble about the traffic in the city centre are the very ones
replacing the old four or five storied buildings with 12 storied blocks 567 Kibo Road, Mikocheni A
that generate that increased traffic. P.O.Box 105620
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Capital, the need for increased profits, that raison d’etre of the capitalist
or neo-liberal economy that can buy love, that, to paraphrase that email: publications@serengetiadvisers.com
famous philosopher of change, melts all that is solid, now underpins info@serengetiadvisers.com
our traffic woes amongst others. Donors may well complain about the www.serengetiadvisersmedia.blogspot.com

SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA OCTOBER 2009