Oh, and about Zanzibar…and other Observations
- Recently: the Zanzibar Elections: That was March 20, and no poll observer was ordered to the repeat elections. Zanzibar could care less, claiming they would go to the polls regardless of mainland participation. Journalists were already calling this the 'impossible' mission.
- The aftermath: although the elections were relatively uneventful, Zanzibar was noted for its tight security. What does tight security mean here? Maybe a few thousand policemen on the ground, in addition to the local police forces. This might have been one very good reason that the election was not marred by violence.
- From the file 'Odd occurrences'. Only this past month, a police commissioner's house was bombed by people who disappeared without a trace. That alone shouldn't garner any headlines. The fact that the man's house was heavily guarded and on a police compound should. The man might seriously want to consider retirement.
- Another issue President Magufuli has pointed out is the omnipresence of ghost workers, people who are on the payroll but nowhere to be found. Somebody's lush well-paid, no-working job is about to end.
- Reading a headline about corruption allegations by members of parliaments is beginning to wear a little thin. It's as surprising as hearing about a rock star die of a drug overdose. Expect the expressions, 'bag of cash', 'resignation', and 'investigation'.
- Tanzania recently sent out some of its journalists to observe the U.S. election primaries. The first reports back indicate that the contests are a blueprint for freedom of expression and transparency. One photo that found its way back was the one showing two demonstrators toting the signs 'Hillary for Prison'. Okay, then.
- And now we hear that the MCC, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, has withdrawn 500 million smackers in aid to Tanzania. Oops. Tanzania failed in the essential areas of good governance, democracy and freedom of expression, so MCC. Tanzania's dream of becoming a donor instead of an aid-dependent country is put on hold, for now at least.
- In Tanzania, the locals here scoff at any comparison between themselves and their friendly neighbors to the northeast in Kenya. Customs, dialect, courtesy, you can't possibly compare the two, so Tanzanians. Now Tanzania has beaten out Kenya for the right to carry Uganda's oil to international markets through a 900 mile pipeline. A matter of security, so officials.
- Tanzania is seeking investors in order to purchase aircraft for its ailing national carrier. The current fleet: one plane, leased, with a capacity of 78 people. Chances are you will find dragons in the sky before spotting an Air Tanzania plane.
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