A February 2006 U.S. cable published by WikiLeaks said Ali Albwardy, owner of a leading hotel chain in the east African country, flew the Tanzanian leader to London on a shopping trip and bought designer suits for the president.
“President Kikwete has accepted gifts (bribes) from the owner of the Kempinski Hotel chain’s Tanzanian properties, a citizen of the United Arab Emirates,” the cable reported.
“Albwardy had recently flown Kikwete to London for a subsidised shopping expedition. Among other things, on that trip Ali Albwardy bought Kikwete five Savile Row suits. He had also recently made a $1 million cash contribution to the CCM (which is a legal contribution under current Tanzanian law).”
Albwardy could not be reached for comment.
Kempinski recently ended its operations in Tanzania, with Albwardy’s Kilimanjaro Hotel in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam being managed by Hyatt Hotels since August 1.
A spokesman for the president’s office said Kikwete had never accepted gifts from any investor and denied that CCM was given a $1 million contribution.
“This cable is as untruthful as it is outrageous. It is full of lies and innuendoes seeking to tarnish the good image and name of the president,” Salva Rweyemamu, director of presidential communications, told a news conference on Monday.