Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:34:43 +0300 [04/20/2009 01:34:43 AM CDT]
From: Yona Fares Maro
Subject: Open Letter to His Exclence JMK

Your Excellence JMK
President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Your Excellence Mr. President

Shalom, As-Salamu `Alaykum

Re:Saudis Request For 500,000 Hectares: A Carrot and Stick Deal?
It is my humble gratitude to write you this open letter as I believe it is an effective way of reaching you.

I would also want to say ‘pole ya safari’.

Mr. President, the reason I am writing this open letter to you is to raise my concern regarding the potential leasing of our land for farming. On the face of it, it sounds to be a good deal for Tanzanian economy. But, my worry is basically on the amount and location of the land in question plus the “credibility” of the potential investors.

I am not attacking the personality of the potential investor but questioning the motives behind this matter as you may note that recently, we have seen Middle East ‘shakers and movers’ visiting East Africa region looking for ‘potential investment opportunities’.

To derive my point home, are these Saudis, really interested in farming or they are using ‘back door’ to gain access to our ‘potential oil reserves’? Why seek your audience after being told by TIC to wait? Naturally, Saudis are oil oriented investors and luxurious staff; therefore there is rebuttable presumption that ‘they are not serious investors in farming”. Are we going to audit them before give such vast land for their investment? Moreover it is a 99 years? Past corruption acts during the signing such contacts have also raised my red flag too.

Mr. President, those potential investors were supposed to contact tic directly, why did they choose a “lobbying approach”. It has been reported that TIC told them to wait for feasibility study of the project.

Mr. President, [the Citizen] Qatar plans to lease 40,000 hectares along Kenya’s coast to grow fruit and vegetables for its own citizens in return for building a 2.4 billion (Sh3 trillion) port close to the Indian Ocean tourist island of Lamu. The plan has, however, met with stiff opposition from activists. This is a sign that wananchi also are tired with some of these deals as a reasonable person will not rush to commit himself/herself.

Mr. President, as it has been dubbed that this is a new ‘scramble’ for East Africa. We should do our homework before rushing and lease our land. I am calling for a cautious approach as I am sure they (Saudis) had upper hand on you and you should note that always they bring a ‘carrot and stick”.

I kindly remain to hear from you.

My country first,

God bless Tanzania.

—
Yona Fares Maro
I.T. Specialist and Digital Security Consultant