CORPORATE FINANCE
ECONOMIC & PUBLIC POLICY
MEDIA REPORT: SEPTEMBER 2009
As local government elections draw nearer, voter registration
in Zanzibar continued to present a problem as citizens and
government disagree on valid documentation. Meanwhile, the
first conviction for albino killers is received with great enthusiasm-
and bloodlust- by the public, but bombs are still claiming lives in
Headline News Analysis
The month of September was not dominated by any one news
story. The turbulence around the Zanzibar voter registration
exercise earned fifteen days of media attention over the course
of the month, followed by the TRL saga that was reported for a
total of 10 days- the frequency of headlines in these two stories
can be explained by their longevity. Other than these two, none
of the top stories of the month earned more than a couple of
days of coverage. The news stories were quite scattered- while
the top three stories only made up 15.6% of the total headlines,
the top ten stories took up 31% of the total headline count.
Top-Ranking Headline Stories
Politics: Zanzibar Voter Registration Crisis
The month of September saw the voter registration exercise in
Zanzibar come to crisis point. The main story can be read on
page four.
Politics: Chadema Election Week
Following the withdrawal of Zitto Kabwe from running for
party chairmanship, as recommended by the council of elders,
Chadema was set to elect its party officials from 186 screened
candidates: ‘Chadema admits Zitto ‘freeze’ (Daily News, 1st
September), ‘Zitto still too young to lead the party’ (The African,
1st September). Although Mr. Kabwe mentioned that ideological
differences exist- he is a socialist while his Chairman supports
capitalism- this was presented as a source of healthy debate and
democracy within Chadema.
Some violence resulting from the Committee of Elders’ decision
as well as a vigorously contested Youth and Women’s Wing
elections showed that competition within the party wasn’t only
of the verbal variety ‘Chadema annuls youth wing election results’
(Daily News, 2nd September), Chadema women council votes in
new leadership’ (The Guardian, 3rd September). In an interesting
move, Chadema were the first African political party to launch
an electronic recruitment system to increase their membership
‘Chadema’s new recruitment plan’ (The Citizen, 4th September). In
the event, the party leadership did not suffer any major upsets:
‘Mbowe retains Chadema’s national chairman post’ (Daily News,
5th September), Slaa, Zitto retain Chadema posts’ (Sunday News, 6th
September).
MEDIA
NOVEMBER 2009
Mbagala. In the world of business, atomic energy and agriculture
are exploring synergies while this month’s Yellow Couch reports
on the user-end of television. Finally, we are pleased to announce
that Serengeti Advisers Media Report is now also available on
our blog www.serengetiadvisersmedia.blogspot.com.
Transport: TRL go slow
Unsupported by the Tanzania Rail Workers Union (TRAWU),
Tanzania Railways Limited workers went on a go-slow to
pressurize the management into paying them their outstanding
salaries ‘TRL hit by another go-slow’ (Daily News, 5th
September), ‘Mgomo TRL’ [Strike at TRL] (Uhuru, 5th
September). Passengers registered their displeasure with the
company by rioting briefly ‘TRL passengers go on rampage in
Dar over interrupted travel’ (Sunday Citizen, 6th September). TRL
and RITES have faced a number of labor and service-related
problems since they started operation in 2007, but the cracks
were really beginning to show with this most recent event; with
TRL being unable to pay RITES for leased equipment on top of
the salary problem: ‘TRL to suspend operations’ (The Guardian
on Sunday, 6th September), ‘RITES hits TRL with Sh14bn lease
bill’ (The Citizen, 7th September).
The Minister for Infrastructure Development, Shukuru
Kawambwa, had to intervene through a three-hour meeting with
workers to assure them that their salaries would be paid and
their jobs remain secure: ‘Serikali Msalabani’ [Government crucified]
(Majira, 8th September), ‘Finally, TRL workers end strike’ (The
Guardian, 9th September). However, TRL continues to face
significant challenges: ‘Govt to engage RITES over suspended
engines, wagons’ (This Day, 18th September), ‘Rites deal remains
slippery’ (Daily News, 18th September).
Politics: Presidential Q&A Session
One day before the event, State House announced that President
Kikwete would do a live question-and-answer session that would
be open to the public. People were encouraged to participate
either by phone or email: ‘Kikwete to field live public questions’
(Daily News, 9th September). The session was broadcast on five
television stations and at least six radio stations and appears to
have been well-received ‘Hopes high after dialogue with JK’
(The Guardian, 11th September). In the post-mortem, the media
focused on the topical issues of the day: religion and the state,
the union question, the fear that CCM is gagging its legislators,
oil in Zanzibar and the war on corruption ‘JK: Kesi tatu mpya
za mafisadi zimeiva’ [Three new major corruption cases about to begin]
(Nipashe, 10th September), ‘JK: Sijawafunga mdomo wabunge’ [JK:
I have not silenced parliamentarians] (Tanzania Daima, 10th September),

‘JK apinga nyaraka za kidini kuhusu uchaguzi’ [JK opposes religious
documents about the elections] (Habari Leo, 10th September).
Corruption: The Alex Stewart Assayers Case
Former Minister of Finance Basil Mramba, along with former
Minister for Energy and Minerals Daniel Yona and former
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance Gray Mgonja
were charged last year with abuse of office and occasional loss of
money to the government for according preferential treatment to
M/S Alex Stewart Assayers Government Business Corporation
in procuring gold assaying services. Other charges include
extending the contract with Alex Stewart as well as approving
tax exemptions ‘Preliminary hearing starts on Mramba case’ (The
African, 17th September), ‘Mramba granted tax exemption without
approval from cabinet’ (The Guardian, 17th September).
All three accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges,
however the prosecution submitted that they had confessed
to having abused their offices during interrogation when the
preliminary hearing resumed in September ‘Court told of
Mramba and Yona confession’ (The Citizen, 17th September),
Mramba, others disown PCCB confessions’ (The Guardian,
18th September). There was some back and forth about the
number of witnesses that the prosecution would be allowed:
‘17 witnesses to testify in Mramba case’ (The African, 23rd
September), ‘State finally yields in tussle over witnesses’ (The
Citizen, 225th September).
Politics: Election Guide Documents
At the end of August, the Central Committee of Shura Politics
of Imams in Tanzania put out a document titled ‘Mwongozo wa
Waislamu kuelekea Uchaguzi Mkuu wa Mwaka 2010’ or Muslim
Guidelines in the Run-up to the 2010 Elections ‘Mwongozo wa
waislamu waibua mjadala’ [Muslim guidelines spark debate] (Mtanzania,
1st September). The document was launched by the Committee’s
chairman, Shehe Ponda Issa Ponda, and is aimed at addressing
what is perceived as systemic marginalization of Muslims by the
state since independence. This document has come on the heels
of Catholic Church’s recent circular to its faithful, a document
aimed at influencing voters’ thoughts about the 2010 elections
using a religious platform. The Muslim Council of Tanzania,
BAKWATA, has distanced itself from the Mwongozo ‘Maimamu
waja na Mwongozo’ [Imams come up with guidelines] (Habari Leo
online, 1st September, retrieved October 2009). Not all clerics are of
the opinion that religion should insert itself in politics: ‘Kakobe
apinga Waraka, Mwongozo’ [Kakobe opposes Circular, Guidelines]
(Habari Leo, 3rd September), ‘Kakobe ashambuliwa’ [Kakobe
attacked] (Tanzania Daima, 4th September). Religion and state also
received some parliamentarian interest: ‘MP mulls motion against
religious debate’ (Daily News, 7th September).
Society: Mbagala Blasts
A change in the regulations with regards to the documents
required from Mbagala bombing victims to get compensation was
met with fury. A few days after the exercise had started, Temeke
Municipality decided that claimants would have to produce either
a housing license or a land tax receipt in order to be eligible for
compensation ‘Masharti mapya ya fidia Mbagala yazua balaa’
[New compensation requirements calamitous] (Mwananchi, 4th September).
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Apparently, the new regulations were put in place to capture
those who did not have a voter’s card or a local government letter.
At the same time the army is trying to discourage people from
rebuilding their houses on army property ‘TPDF: No rebuilding
near Mbagala depot’ (The African, 8th September), ‘Mbagala bado
si Salama- JWTZ’ [Mbagala not safe yet] (Mtanzania Jumapili, 13th
September). Soon after the announcement, three children died and
another two were injured when a bomb hidden in a trash pile
exploded near them ‘Fresh blasts rock Mbagala’ (Daily News, 25th
September), ‘Third child in Mbagala blast dies’ (The Citizen, 26th
September), ‘Mbagala waandamana hadi kwa Waziri Pinda’ [Mbagala
residents march to Minister Pinda’s office] (Mwananchi, 29th September).
Corruption: BoT Corruption Trial
In the middle of the month, four senior employees of the
Bank of Tanzania have been taken to court on for corruption,
having allegedly caused the loss of Sh104 billion shillings by
inflating the cost of printing new currency. Deputy Director
in Charge of Currency Kisima Mkango, and former Director
of Banking Simon Jengo are charged with using documents
to mislead their superiors, and on the second count Mr. Jengo
requested the printing of a larger number of Tanzanian bank
notes than had been requested by the User Department. On
the third count- that of failing to discharge their duties in a
reasonable manner- they are joined by the Acting Director of
Legal Services, Bosco Kimela and Director of Banking Ally
Bakari.
Mr. Kimela is currently also charged with negligence in the
External Payments Account (EPA) trial. ‘4 in Sh100bn BoT scam’
(The Citizen, 16th September) ‘BoT officials in court over banknotes
fraud’ (This Day, 16th September).
Society: Albino Killers Trial
Emmanuel Masangwa, Charles Kalamuji and Masumbuko Madata
were found guilty of murdering 13-year old albino Matatizo Dunia,
and sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Gabriel Rwakibalila
in Shinyanga: ‘Watatu kunyongwa kwa mauaji albino’ [Three to hang
for albino murder] (Habari Leo, 24th September), ‘Albinos want public
hanging of murderers’ (The Citizen, 24th September). Demand for
albino body parts in recent years has caused a major upsurge in
murders, with albinos being targeted for attack at any age. While
some members of the public feel that the death sentence is fitting
punishment, and will serve as a deterrent to would-be albino killers,
others are not in favor of capital punishment. The ‘guilty’ ruling
has been universally popular, however, as public concern with
the issue has been high ‘Three albino killers to hang…as ruling
greeted with joy’ (The Guardian, 24th September), ‘Death sentence is
a non-starter’ (The Guardian, 25th September).
Power: Tanesco in the news
It emerged that one of the Directors of Strategies Insurance
Limited and PharmaAccess International- the company that won
a tender to provide Tanesco with health insurance services to the
tune of 3.7bn Shillings- is also a Tanesco board member. ‘Ufisadi
wamtisha Ngeleja’ [Corruption shocks Ngeleja] (Tanzania Daima,
17th September), ‘Serikali yachunguza ufisadi wa bima Tanesco’
[Government investigating Tanesco insurance corruption] (Mwananchi, 17th
September). This news came relatively soon after the government
SEPTEMBER 2009

had to launch an investigation into 1.4 bn Shillings that were
apparently used to renovate 17 houses for senior Tanesco staff
‘Tanesco kitanzini’ [Tanesco in trouble] (Habari Leo, 17th September).
The current Managing Director of the utility company, Idris
Rashidi, was appointed by the President in 2006 during the peak
of the power crisis and the Richmond debacle. In a departure
from the usual presidential appointment, Mr. Rashidi’s position
was recently advertised: ‘Tanesco boss’ exit set as job is advertised’
(The Citizen, 19th September), ‘Mystery surrounds TANESCO job
advert for MD’s position’ (This Day, 19th September), ‘Behind Dr.
Rashidi’s exit’.
Business Notes
Daily News: Atomic Agriculture - lending its support the
government’s Kilimo Kwanza strategy, the Tanzania Atomic
Energy Commission (TAEC) has declared its interest in using
radiation technology to improve seeds, insecticides, pesticides,
food processing and preservation. However this would require
serious government intervention to ‘facilitate the commission
to enable it [to] start applying the technology.’ The discovery
of uranium deposits in the country supports TAEC’s vision
of a future in which Tanzanian will be able to use radiation
technology to improve the local food supply. (8th September).
The Citizen: The World Economic Forum on Africa comes to Dar- The
2010 World Economic Forum on Africa will be hosted by
Tanzania, making it the first time that the conference will be held
in East Africa. Although traditionally meetings of this magnitude
have historically been held in Nairobi, it is rumored that Dar es
Salaam may have benefitted from the ongoing unpopularity of
the Kenyan government, which lost its bid to host. The World
Economic Forum on Africa is ‘renowned for its informal style
that engenders frank and open discussions’ over the course of
three days. (21st September).
The African: Chinese Business- While speaking to at a luncheon on
the eve of the US-Africa Business Summit, President Kikwete
challenged American investors to follow the example set by
their Chinese counterparts: “The Western Media paint a very
bad image of Africa, and that threatens investors, while the
Chinese are grabbing the opportunity to invest in Africa.” The
President had recently inaugurated the new Tanzanian Embassy
in Washington which cost the country Tshs 13.5 bn. Sino-
Tanzanian relations have been very cordial during the fourth
administration, especially in the area of economic diplomacy.
The Guardian: International Mobile Banking- The regional mobile
phone service company Zain is offering international mobile
banking through their Zap service. According to their press
release, “this is the first time in the world any mobile bank
account has been configured so that its users can receive funds
from any point directly to their mobile handset as well as send
funds directly to their bank account.” The Zain network is
available to 100 million people across the African continent.
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At Leisure:
A glance at the Sunday Columns
The Pro-Kiswahili Lobby: “It is getting tougher to defend the use
of our national language, Swahili” laments Madaraka Nyerere in his
Letter from Butiama. Even the national carrier is likely to serve its
passengers in English, to his dismay. And that’s not the only place in
which service insists on dealing only in English- Madaraka goes on
to relate his experiences at a tourist hotel where the waiter steadfastly
refused to speak to meet him halfway as he ‘ordered a few more items
from him, all the while using Swahili while he responded only in
English.’ Mr. Nyerere makes a decidedly grim and somewhat dramatic
comparison with the beleaguered French who have unsuccessfully
tried to stem the tide of English linguistic imperialism when he states
that ‘perhaps it is only a matter of time before Kiswahili, whose
speakers do not care whether they themselves speak their language
correctly or use it, also crumbles.’ As he concludes that ‘the struggle to
defend the use of Kiswahili might also have to involve transforming
myself into someone who looks like he speaks the language,’ the
least he could do is list the visual attributes of a Kiswahili speaker.
(Sunday News, 6th September).
The Pro-English Lobby: in her Snap Shots at Life, Angel Navuri
sees the language issue as one where Tanzanians have to adapt to
a labor market that clearly privileges those who can speak English
over those who cannot: ‘Professionals [from] countries like Kenya
and Uganda manage to grab jobs in this country because they are
seen to be fluent in the language.’ This leads her to a very utilitarian
assessment of the situation- ‘The national Kiswahili language can
still be used but should not be given priority like the English language
especially in this era.’ Ms. Navuri asserts that contrary to popular
belief, most people in the ‘new generation’ prefer to use Kiswahili
rather than English, and she acknowledges that ‘in the past, Kiswahili
made tremendous progress in developing the language and literature,
partly because there was a parallel development in […] economic
and political pursuits.’ However, the pressure to succeed in the
contemporary environment means that English cannot be ignored
because ‘Young people follow activities which will provide them
with future security.’ As far as she is concerned, languages cannot be
treated as static entities because ‘after all, a language is only as good
as the people who use it. (The Guardian on Sunday, 6th September)
The Cynical View: Adam Lusekelo touches very lightly on the issue
of language by taking the opportunity to tease Steven Kanumba-
prolific Tanzania film producer, director, actor, scriptwriter, composer
and singer- about his home-brewed English during a recent interview
in South Africa. He advises him not to worry because ‘it is very
easy to be shot down by a bunch of mediocrities.’ Ascribing Steven
Kanumba’s roasting at the hands of the mediocrities to jealousy, Mr.
Lusekelo was more interested in exposing the real day-to-day frictions
that arise in our multi-lingual and multi-cultural societies: ‘If people
want to laugh at all those lingual hostilities in any language to others,
they should hear Indians speaking Kiswahili.’ He goes on to point
out that even mighty Kiswahili isn’t welcome everywhere in East
Africa: “Listen to the Baganda in Uganda. They don’t want to speak
Chiswahili. That is the language of the oppressor. The language was
spoken by some murderous Ugandan dictator and his goon squad.
It reminds them of terrible days.” Whatever the language of interest
may be, Adam Lusekelo offers this pragmatic advice to those who
are concerned with getting it right: ‘language and school help in
furthering careers.’ (The Sunday News, 20th September)
SEPTEMBER 2009

Main Zanzibar Voter Registration Crisis
Story
A diplomatic row was triggered between Zanzibar and the United
States after the latter’s State Department issued a travel warning
advising its citizens against visiting the island, ‘Zanzibar slams US
travel alert’ (The Citizen, 1st September). The Zanzibar Minister of State
in the Chief Minister’s Office, Hamza Hassan Juma, accused the US
of spreading ‘lie[s] to the world.’ Soon after, the Civic United Front
(CUF) Chairman Professor Ibrahim Lipumba and his aides discovered
burnt registration cards in a government-owned warehouse in Dar
es Salaam, ‘Kadi za kura zanaswa Dar zikiteketezwa’ [Registration
cards found burned in Dar] (Mwananchi, 10th September). Following this
discovery, Prof. Lipumba demanded the resignation of the head of
the National Electoral Commission (NEC) Judge Lewis Makame for
incompetent leadership ‘CUF calls for resignation of NEC top boss
Makame’ (The African, 11th September).
Weeks of negative coverage forced President Amani Abeid
Karume of Zanzibar to address the matter. Speaking to CCM
elders in the south region of Pemba, he insisted that the
government was not going to change the rules just so it can palliate
a few disgruntled voices, ‘Karume: Vitambulisho vya Mzanzibari
ni lazima’ [Karume: Zanzibari ID cards necessary] (Mzalendo, 13th
September).
But the scuffles at polling stations between riot police and local
residents impeded voter registration drives for the second consecutive
day, ‘Pemba voter registration exercise still suspended’ (The Guardian,
14th September). Two days later, minor altercations devolved into full
blown violent protests and the police responded with tear gas and
rubber bullets, ‘Zanzibar sasa ni balaa tupu’ [Zanzibar now is all chaos]
(Mwananchi, 15th September).
On the political front, CUF kept up the pressure on Judge Makame
to resign, alleging that his statement that the burned identity cards
were from 2005 was misleading and that the batch had actually
included documents dated for 2007/08, ‘CUF adamant on Makame’s
resignation’ (The African, 15th September). The CUF Deputy Director
of Public Relations and Publicity Ashura Mustapha told reporters that
the recent incidents only underscored the need for an independent
electoral commission.
In Pemba, the violence escalated after attempts by the Field Force
Unit (FFU) and soldiers to pacify angry protestors resulted in
civilian casualties ‘Nyumba zachomwa moto’ [Houses fire bombed]
(Majira, 16th September). In what appeared to be a retaliatory
move, unidentified people razed a house belonging to the North
Pemba Regional Police Commander (RPC) Mr. Yahya Hemed Bugi
in the Unguja Urban West region, ‘Pemba RPC’s house torched in
Unguja’ (Daily News, 17th August). The attack did not dissuade
the government from it’s aggressive posture.
It warned CUF politicians that they would be arrested and thrown in
jail if it was discovered that they instigated the violence, ‘Some MPs,
Isles reps to be held responsible for Pemba chaos’ (This Day, 17th
September).
As the crisis deepened, Judge Makame refused to accept any
responsibility for the problems in Pemba, arguing that the issue was
not within the NEC’s jurisdiction, ‘Makame: Ya Kulaumiwa ni Tume
ya Uchaguzi Z’bar’ [Makame: Zanzibar Electoral Commission to blame]
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(Mwananchi, 18th September). The statement was met with confusion by
the ZEC Director Salum Kassim who told reporters that he could not
believe such words would be spoken by the national chairman of NEC,
‘Kauli ya Makame yaichanganya Zec’ [Makame’s statement baffles ZEC]
(Mwananchi, 19th September). Judge Makame’s comments only worked to
sharpen CUF’s criticism of him, who accused him of reneging on his
duties and being disingenuous, ‘NEC haiwezi kujivua vurugu za Pemba
- CUF’ [NEC cannot remove themselves from the events of Pemba] (Nipashe,
19th September).
State House Director of Communications Salva Rweyemamu
injected himself into the debate when he suggested that CUF
were partly responsible for the chaos in Pemba due to their
refusal to conclude the political reconciliation talks with CCM,
‘State House tells off CUF’ (Sunday Citizen, 20th September).
While CUF kept up the pressure on the ZEC, ‘CUF yataka
makamishna wake kujiondoa ZEC’ [CUF ask their commissioners to
leave ZEC] (Nipashe, 21st September), the situation on the ground
deteriorated further with reports that violent protests had now
erupted in Unguja, ‘Polisi wamimina mabomu ya machozi kwa
helikopta’ [Police use helicopters to drop tear gas bombs] (Mwananchi,
22nd September).
But Pemba was still the epicenter of the whole dispute, despite the
aggressive pushback by the police, ‘Riots still mar[red] Zanzibar poll
register’ (Daily News, 23rd September). In an interview with the Tanzania
Broadcasting Channel (TBC), the Deputy Chairman of CCM Mr. Pius
Msekwa expressed concern that should things continue along this
path, then the Isles were in danger of going the way of Kenya and
Zimbabwe. The only solution to the crisis, he advised, was to form a
government of national unity, ‘CCM yafikiria mseto Zanzibar’ [CCM
thinks about a coalition in Zanzibar] (Majira, 26th September).
The President attempted to play down the crisis, assuring the UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that he was on top of the situation
in Zanzibar. He reiterated his stance that only the parties involved
can resolve the issue, ‘Isles crisis under control – JK’ (Daily News, 28th
September) and ‘JK akataa udikteta Z’bar’ [JK refuses to dictate on Z’bar]
(Habari Leo, 28th September).
CUF Chairman Prof. Lipumba called the President’s statement
‘misguided’ and accused him of possessing ‘neither the desire nor
the ability to resolve Zanzibar’s political impasse,’ ‘CUF scoffs at
Kikwete’s remarks on Zanzibar’ (The Citizen, 29th September).
As attempts by CUF to demonstrate near State House failed, ‘CUF
wazuiwa kukaribia Ikulu’ [CUF stopped from nearing State House] (Majira,
30th Majira), September ended with the political crisis in Zanzibar still
unresolved.
What the commentators said
CCM has got its priorities all mixed up with its leadership focused more
on Machiavellian political machinations than the actual process of
governing, writes Dr. Azaveli Feza Lwaitama, ‘Pemba unrest and State
Violence’ (The Citizen, 23rd September). In this purported ‘land of peace
and solidarity across ethnic and religious divides’ it is sad to witness the
Zanzibari government, in effect, employing it’s security and military
apparatus against its own people. Why, Dr. Lwaitama asks, did the CCM
Central Committee and the National Executive Committee, in their
recent gathering in Dodoma, chaired by President Kikwete himself,
‘not spend…time deliberating on the impending political catastrophe
in Zanzibar? Furthermore, the Zanzibari government should not use
SEPTEMBER 2009

arcane laws to deny the people their fundamental democratic right to
vote. ‘If existing Zanzibari residency laws seem to get in their way, then
these laws ought to be repealed immediately as a matter of urgency.’
For Adam Lusekelo, the whole spectacle in Pemba was a
nightmare instance of déjà vu, ‘Not the Isles violence again!’
(Daily News, 23rd September). ‘Are we going to witness violence
after violence after every five years in Zenj? This just cannot
go on forever,’ he declared. Why is it that every election cycle,
we have to hear about problems coming out of Pemba? Is
it simply that folks in Pemba are born trouble-makers? This
argument ‘will no longer wash.’ For Lusekelo, the issue here
is clear: people in Pemba tend to be overwhelming supporters
of CUF and this is at the core of the problem for the CCM led
government in Zanzibar. But ‘the people of Pemba have got
their preferences…Nobody can force them to change heart by
force, least of all beat them up, tear gas them silly and prevent
them from their democratic right to vote.’ Doing so will only
lead to their radicalization. Should it lead to this, things will
turn really ugly ‘This cannot go on forever and the last thing
the Zanzibar government wants is [to] face the people with
their backs to the wall.’
The current troubles in Zanzibar are eerily reminiscent of the problems
the Irish experienced for decades, writes Hilal K. Sued, ‘Can luck save
the Isles the fourth time?’ (The African, 26th September). He warns that
‘what the Union Government [is doing] is the Ulsterisation of the Isles
– the approach first used by the British Government in the 1960s to
quell sectarian unrest in one part of its Union – Northern Ireland.’ But
this strategy ‘failed miserably.’ After years of fighting and thousands
of death, a tenuous peace has been achieved. This came about through
patient and sometimes painful dialogue. Both the Union and Zanzibar
Government would do well to take heed of this example from history.
We may be fast approaching the point of no return. The window for
peace is closing. The Union Government needs to show leadership on
this issue or things will ‘slip out of hand, or even when the luck that
holds it down runs. Yes luck – for I have no other explanation for the
apparent absence of open conflict.’
On Line:
Jamii Forums
Jamii Forums is a veteran of the Tanzanian internet presence.
Claiming over 14,000 members, it changed its name from Jambo
Forums in 2008 after some legal troubles, and currently claims
over 600,000 posts in 31,000 threads.. The Forum is open to both
Kiswahili and English users, which attracts members both in-
country and in the diaspora. The topics range widely from politics
to entertainment and lifestyle. Although the political section receives
the most attention, in general Jamii Forums provides a good view
of which current topics are receiving attention, and occasionally it
can be a platform for breaking news. Due to the anonymous nature
of the Forum- administrators and members both conceal their Real
World identities- evaluating the quality of information on Jamii is
left entirely up to the user.
Highlights: An excellent diversity of opinions and interests keeps
many of the interesting discussions lively.
Lowlights: The very light-handed moderation means that
discussions can, and often do, devolve into off-topic brawls.
URL: www.jamiiforums.com
SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA
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Watch Word
“It should be understood that I’m a mere chairman and not the
owner of the party. I believe that one day my tenure will come
to an end and another member will lead, all we want to see is the
achievement of our goals as a political party” Chadema Party
Chairman, Freeman Mbowe, commenting on Zitto Kabwe’s
withdrawal from the race for chairmanship. (Daily News, 1st
September).
“Personally, I have no problem with independent candidates,
neither does the government.” Minister for Justice and
Constitutional Affairs Mathias Chikawe, explaining that the
government’s appeal against the second High Court ruling in favor
of independent candidates is actually a matter of constitutional
law (The Guardian, 9th September)
“I have neither given it a thought not made my stand public
anywhere.” Former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, responding
to questions about his rumored intention to run for President in
the coming general election. (The Citizen, 14th September)
“I think its better they stay here because they are safer here…
anyone can come and see them here…I think if Germany had
never brought them here they could most probably still be down
there (in the soil at Tendaguru in Lindi)” Curator of Vertebrate
Paleontology at the Museum of Natural History commenting
“”
on the Government of Tanzania’s efforts to repatriate dinosaur
skeletons and other artifacts from Tanzania. (Daily News, 19th
September)
Inbox
Dear Serengeti Team:
It was not easy to believe that this publication was from Bongo! I
wish to encourage you keep on keeping on. However, try and see if it
is possible to change the color on your contacts because they are not
very clearly seen!
Keep it up!
Derek Murusuri
Morogoro
Dear Serengeti Team:
I subscribed to the SAL publications and I must say I am very
impressed. It is extremely informative and definitely beats reading the
online papers. When I was in Dar we talked about the possibility of
you guys gearing this more towards Tanzanians who are abroad. A few
of the Tanzanian blogs are helpful, but they are not as professional as
Serengeti Advisers.
Regards to all,
Diane McDaniel
USA
SEPTEMBER 2009
 6
SEPTEMBER NEWS

Week 1: 1-7 September

News Story English Kiswahili Total Appearances Rank

Chadema Election Week 13 41 54 6 1

Elections Guide Documents 5 12 17 3 2
TRL/RITES Go-slow 5 10 15 3 3
Z’Bar Vote Registration 6 3 9 2 4
Fireoutbreak Death 2 5 7 1 5
Other Stories 82 89 171

Total 113 160 273

Week 2: 8-14 September

News Story English Kiswahili Total Appearances Rank

Kikwete Public Speech 13 22 35 5 1

TRL/RITES Issue 2 15 17 5 2
Class 7 Exams 5 8 13 3 3
Z’Bar Vote Registration 2 6 8 1 4
Mahita Trial Judgement 2 5 7 1 5
Other Stories 89 107 196

Total 113 163 276

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

Z’Bar Vote Registration 9 28 37 6 1

BoT Scam 5 13 18 5 2
Mramba,Yona Trial 4 10 14 3 3
Tanesco Story 4 9 13 1 4
TRL/RITES Issue 3 7 10 1 5
Other Stories 78 96 174

Total 109 163 272

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

Z’Bar Vote Registration 7 19 26 4 1

Mramba,Yona Trial 7 13 20 3 2
Mbagala Blasts 7 11 18 4 3
Albino killers Trial 6 8 14 2 4
Food Shortage/Drought 8 5 13 2 5
Others Stories 94 117 211

Total 129 173 302

SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA SEPTEMBER 2009

 7

September 2009 Top 10 Stories

Number of Headlines Headlines Share (Percentage) Attention Span

Index
Z’Bar Voter Registration 80 7.1 15
Chadema Election Week 54 4.8 6
TRL/RITES Go-slow 42 3.7 10
Kikwete Public Speech 42 3.7 7
Mramba,Yona Trial 34 3.0 5
Elections Guide Documents 33 2.9 7
Mbagala Blasts 23 2.0 6
BoT Scam 23 2.0 3
Top Ten Stories Headline Share
Albino Killers Trial
Tanesco Story
14
13
1.2
1.2
2
3
Other Stories 765 68.1

TOTAL Stories 1123

Z'Bar Voter Registration

Chadema Election Week

TRL/RITES Go-slow
Zanzibar Voter Registration
Chadema Kikwete Public Speech
Election Week
TRL/RITES Go-slow
Mramba,Yona Trial
Kikwete Public Speech
Mramba,Elections
Yona Trial Guide Documents
Elections Guide Document
Mbagala Blasts
Mbagala Blasts
BoT ScamBoT Scam
Albino Killers Trial
Attention Span Index TanescoAlbino
Story Killers Trial
Other Stories
Tanesco Story

Other Stories
Attention Span Index

Zanzibar
Z'Bar Voter
Voter Registration
Registration
Chadema
Chadema ElectionWeek
Election Week
TRL/RITESGo-slow
TRL/RITES Go-slow
Kikwete Public
Kikwete PublicSpeech
Speech
Mramba,Yona
Mramba, YonaTrial
Trial
ElectionsElections
Guide Document
Guide …
Mbagala
MbagalaBlasts
Blasts
BoT
BoTScam
Scam
Albino
AlbinoKillers
Killers Trial
Trial
Tanesco
TanescoStory
Story

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

Days in theDays
Newsin 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 September: 1123.

SERENGETI ADVISERS MEDIA SEPTEMBER 2009


YELLOW COUCH
12 Hours on Any Given Sunday
In a particularly humorous episode of the African-America animated
series, The Boondocks, the main character embarks on an intriguing
experiment. Huey decides to spend two weeks watching nothing but
black television shows. The motive behind this rather eccentric decision
is to see what he would learn about African-Americans through this
cultural prism. Taking a page from Huey’s experiment, Yellow Couch
decided to spend half a day in thrall to territorial television to see
what would emerge from a few hours of watching local channels.
The following is an account of Yellow Couch’s great telly box screen
adventure:
It is nine o’clock on a Sunday and a children’s program is on at
Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC). Jukwaa La Watoto
[The Children’s Platform] is imbued with a charming and endearing
quality: all its presenters are kids, from the studio anchor to its field
reporters. This particular weekend, the topic under discussion is
homelessness and child labor, and the kids do a tremendous job
with such a weighty issue. On closer inspection, it becomes clear
that the choice of topic is not accidental: the episode is coming
to us courtesy of Plan International, an NGO dedicated to the
elimination of child poverty.
This symmetry of subject and the sponsor’s declared mission raises
questions, such as: who decides on content? Is it the donors bankrolling
the show, or is it the creative team? Based on the episode, it appears
to be the NGO, which begs another question: when did international
aid organisations start acting like Hollywood film studios? While the
Couch was marinating on these questions, TBC moved on to another
exercise in canny adaptation: Sesame Street in Kiswahili, with local
songs thrown in. It is a hoot. And for a moment, it feels like all is well
with the world.
A few minutes later, a brief flip through the other channels reveals CNN
on Dar es Salaam Television (DTV), while on the Mwanza – based
StarTV channel, the German Deutsche Welle Television is holding fort.
On Channel Ten, Cartoon Network is in full swing and East African
Television (EATV) is relentless with its MTV impersonation, treating
the audience to uninterrupted music videos. Capital TV is entertaining
viewers with a Bollywood musical. It is encouraging to see that our
local stations are such internationalists, connecting Tanzanians to the
outside world in this way. Either that’s what they were doing, or they
have no original programming so the foreign channels and content
provide convenient schedule fillers.
By mid-morning ITV is hosting its weekly omnibus of the long-
running South African soap, Isidingo, while a Mexican telenovella is
occupying viewers over at Channel Ten. Meanwhile, following the
news headlines at Star TV, a talk show about socio-political issues
comes on. The guest- an economist from the University of Dar es
salaam- goes on and on about mining and how it needs to replace
agriculture as the number one source of income for majority of
Tanzanians. Unfortunately, it is unclear how he proposes folks
realize this grand ambition.
As the morning fades and the early afternoon rolls in, a program
on EATV catches the eye. Skonga is an original production, and it
subscribes to a very basic formula. The presenter, a young-ish man
named Alan Laki, goes around schools in Dar es Salaam and talks to
students. That’s it. While on paper this may appear banal, on screen
its effect is revelatory. Viewers get a refreshing and honest insight into
SERENGETI ADVISERS
8
the fresh young minds of the city’s schoolchildren. The kids share their
stories, dreams, hopes and aspirations. No donor mumbo-jumbo here.
Skonga offers a vision of kids being kids: smart, silly, mischievous,
passionate, shrewd, innocent and full of hope for the future… and it
warms the heart.
Speaking of the future, a show on ITV offers an exciting glimpse of how
it might come to look like when it comes to football. Tanzania Dream
profiles young soccer players selected to join the elite Tanzania Soccer
Academy. In interviews interspersed with shots of players showing off
their skills, these young men speak about their aspirations of becoming
world-class professionals. Under the tutelage of their English coach,
the players get a footballing education that is unprecedented on these
shores. The game is more than hard practices, they are told: training also
includes guidelines on what players should eat and a scientific analysis
that underpins the modern game. The transformation of Tanzanian
football is compelling, and the audience is right there bearing witness
thanks to ITV.
The football conversation continues at TBC with the broadcasting
of the European Champions League Preview magazine. However,
frustratingly, it soon dawns on the viewer that the matches being
previewed have already been played, shown on this very channel -
three weeks ago. How the program made into the air confounds belief,
but so it goes. On Star TV the music magazine show is thankfully
more up-to-date. ‘Bongo Beats’ features the rap star Joh Makini. The
interview has a relaxed, street corner banter quality to it. The simple
unpretentiousness makes it all the more compelling.
Before we conclude this troll through TZ’s TV landscape, a word
about Cable Television (CTN): what the hell are they doing?
They seem to be using the space granted to them by the Tanzania
Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) like a Dar street
billboard - steal other people’s hard work, in their case CNN or the
BBC, and get advertisers to pay loads of money for it without lifting
a finger to create original content. What is even more troubling is
how they have managed to remain on air for so long while doing
absolutely nothing to merit staying there.
So what has half a day’s dedicated watching revealed? For one, it
appears that NGOs are a bad influence in the arts in this country.
Their dogmatic proselytizing of their agendas tends to stifle creativity,
and children become vehicles of information dissemination instead of
explorers of their imaginations. Also: investment in original content
development is at best at its infancy, at worst, non-existent. This explains
the predominance of Mexican telenovellas, South African Soaps and
Nigerian films. Tanzanian television may be a little too deferential to
outsiders yet, but it is on the way to find itself.
We would like to acknowledge the kind sponsorship
of Minesite Tanzania Limited
567 Kibo Road, Mikocheni A
P.O.Box 105620
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
email: publications@serengetiadvisers.com
info@serengetiadvisers.com
www.serengetiadvisersmedia.blogspot.com
MEDIA SEPTEMBER 2009