A Cry For Tanzania is a plea for the general public to understand the fact that Tanzania like any other country has its’ rights for self-determination , sovereignty and development. This forum, therefore provides the space or stage for open discussions where people from all walks of life are entitled to express their views, beliefs and ideas with no objection or prejudice. Such an open space for discussion is vital. In fact, such a forum provides an opportune arena for patriotic Tanzanian citizens like myself and many others to express our peoples and government’s plight with unscrupulous investors such as the Friedkin Group. Investors anywhere in the world can be a positive catalyst to a country’s development or a negative one. Obviously, Tanzania like any other country seeks to work with the latter; genuine investors who are law-abiding, good tax payers, equal opportunity employers who can be called good corporate citizens and act in good faith. In Tanzania, there are many good foreign investors, however, the government like any other government must be able to weed out the good eggs vis a vis the rotten ones! It is from this context that my discussion is based on.
The Friedkin Groups’ behavior in Tanzania is in fact abysmal and intolerable. Under the guise of so called “philanthropy” and “conservation”, the Friedkin Group practices in Tanzania have been the total opposite of their own very standards carried out in the USA. As the CEO Marc Watts so self-righteously stipulated, “ our companies do not answer to shareholders or respond to the short- term pressures of wall street. We answer to ourselves, with accountability and responsibility for our actions resting with each one of us. We do the right thing and treat people the right way every day, regardless of the situation. Ultimately, how we get things done is just as important as the final result.” However, their actions in Tanzania have been the total opposite and instead characterized by abuse, rape, plunder and exploitation of the Tanzanian people and its natural wildlife wealth. In reading, many of the commentators have failed to respond to the legitimate allegations posted in this forum. Their automatic assumption that the Friedkin Group is right and the Tanzanian Government is wrong is erroneous and baseless. Most of the comments diverge from the real issues at stake in this discussion and in turn raise matters of no relevance to the debate. English is my second language, so perhaps most of the commentators are misunderstanding my presentation of the key points in this debate and therefore feel it is important for me to readdress theseissues again and for them to re-consider their position in light of this genuine complaint and facts presented. This double standard behaviour by the FriedkinGroup of discriminatory pay/promotion practices and reneging on major investment agreements is disrespectful and dishonest! In reality, it is totally unacceptable by any world standard!

OFFSHORE SALARY TAX EVASION SCHEME FOR WHITE EXPATRIATE MANAGERS
As previously stated, the Friedkin Group has been caught “red handed”- evading payroll taxes which consist of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and Skills Development Levy (SDL) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for their white expatriate managers only. This scheme has been authorized by Marc Watts (CEO of Freidkin Group) and Kimbereley Jacobson (Chief Legal Officer of the Friedkin Group) with the knowledge and blessings of Dan Friedkin (Chairman and Proprietor of FG companies worldwide). This plot has been orchestrated for over 30 years and has been beneficial only to white expatriate managers. Local newspapers (Jamhuri& Citizen) have addressed these issues in the local media and presented the evidence to the public openly for review, debate and discussion.
The Friedkin Group of companies in Tanzania has only a few indigenous, African managers who have equivalent qualifications and experience similar to those of the white expatriate managers and in some cases they may even be more qualified. The question here is why are these white expatriate managers paid ten times the salaries that their African counterparts are paid when their qualifications, skills and experience are the same or even more? Moreover, why are the foreign expatriate managers paid tax free salaries into their offshore bank accounts while their Tanzanian affiliate managers are paid less and deducted all taxes from their salaries? Why is this tax free salary arrangement only a privilege and benefit to white expatriate managers and not the indigenous Tanzanian managers? Is this tax evasion scheme carried out by the Friedkin Group in Tanzania acceptable in the USA or anywhere else in the world? The Tanzanian Government has every right to claim and fight for their taxes and to also take any legal measures against the Friedkin Group and its foreign expatriate managers to recover the enormous revenue lost over this time period!! It is the Tanzanian Government’s rightful claim!
What one fails to fathom or comprehend here is the fact that the Friedkin Group (which comprises of stellar companies such as Gulf States Toyota, Auberge Resorts Collection and Imperative Entertainment) can be associated with such an unethical act. The Friedkin Group is a group of companies that has an annual revenue stream of well over USD $ 9 Billion, so why involve itself in such unethical practices. There is no reason for such a Group to evade such petty taxes in the bigger schemes of things. It is utterly nonsensical for such a conglomerate to take part in such an embarrassing tax evasion plot!

Will such a scheme really make the Friedkin Group richer? Or will it help in the accumulation of a larger poolof savings for their overall business empire? Or was it part of their corporate adventurein Africa? Why is this tax evasion scheme not practiced in the USA but is only practiced in Tanzania? Such a decision has led to major consequences for the Group with regards to its brand/ image in Tanzania, Europe (in particular Italy) and the USA! In fact, it has even hurt Toyota’s image due its affiliation with the Friedkin Group through Gulf States Toyota!
Thebehaviour of the Friedkin Group in Tanzania can only be explained by their sheerarrogance and disrespect for the people, Government and wildlife resources availed to them. It is important that all the commentators and observers in this forum look at the facts carefully and rather than form a preconceived idea, they reflect and use a higher moral grounding to form an enlightened opinion. Nowhere in the world is taxevasion justifiable! Nowhere in the world arediscriminatory pay/promotion policies acceptable! It is simply immoral and wrong! It is now time for the Friedkin Group to “ do the right thing and treat people the right way”, as self-righteously stated by Marc Watts. Their blatant hypocrisy and double standards must now come to an end.The Freidkin Group cannot claim innocence here as the facts speak for themselves and the Group must accept responsibility for their actions. The assumption that the Tanzanian Government is wrong and the Friedkin Group is right is completely unjustified. Defrauding any Government or person in the world is unacceptable behaviour!



RENEGING ON STRATEGIC INVESTMENT STATUS AWARD/ AGREEMENT
In August of 2015, the Friedkin Group of companies in Tanzania was awarded a Strategic Investment Status (SIS). This award protected the Friedkin’s already existing investment in Tanzania and further required the Group to inject an additional investment of USD $ 100 Million. Mr Dan Friedkin , proprietor of the Friedkin Group, personally wrote to his Excellency President John PombeMagufuli (JPM) to commit to his promise of a further investment of USD $ 100 Million into Tanzania. This investment as per the SIS proposal presented to the Government consisted of seven (7) ultra-luxury lodges to be developed in their concession areas, game reserves as well as national parks and an elephant orphanage in Arusha. In fact, the Friedkin Group commitment was to invest USD $ 10 Million per annum for the next ten years starting from 2015 to 2025. The main objective of the Friedkins’ additional investment commitment of USD $ 100 Million was to create economic value for their wildlife areas by developing a tourism facility that would generate employment for the surrounding local communities , increase tax revenue for the Government and protect these wildlife areas. Unfortunately, to date not even a single dollar has been invested to develop these sevenlodgesorthe elephant orphanage. Instead, the Friedkin Group has conducted a major retrenchment exercise where employees who had worked for the Group for a lifetime lost their jobs. To our Government’s surprise, the total opposite of what was promised by the Friedkin Group in their SIS proposal has occurred.
It is clear that Dan Friedkin’s personal commitment to President Magufuli was not genuine. In fact, what has clearly transpired is that Dan Friedkin and his Group have reneged on their SIS investment promises. To date, the Friedkin Group is short by USD $ 50 Million in their promised investment. It is now evident that Dan Friedkin’s ultimate goal with the SIS award was not to invest in Tanzania but was rather to secure a 30 year protection over his concession areas for his own personal enjoyment as well as his so called “friends” and family. It is common knowledge to the staff at his camps what type of “friends” Mr Friedkin receives and the activities that take placeon his regular yearly visits.



Are these the type of investors Tanzania really needs? It comes as no surprise that the Government of Tanzania has recently revoked the Friedkin’s wildlife areas such as Ugallaand Mayowosi and it will come as no surprise if Maswa is revoked too. No genuine investor behaves in such a fashion where part and parcel of his code of conduct is to cheat the Government of their taxes and make false promises that he does not heed. Tanzania under his Excellency John PombeMagufuli is looking for genuine investors who not only want to invest in the country to make a profit but who also have a conscious to create employment for the locals so as to improve their socio-economic conditions; promote locals to key management positions and treat them fairly with dignity and respect ; and investors who are honest and fulfill their commitments and promises. Fake investors are not needed in Tanzania.
It is true to say that Tanzania like any other third world country has its challenges. Yes, investing in Africa and Tanzania is not easy or for the faint hearted but we all know that Tanzania is well endowed with mineral resources, good weather, prime wildlife concession areas, fertile agricultural land, a youthful labourforce anda growing potential market spanning the East African region . The opportunities here are immense. Tanzania’s government is faced with real problems such a poverty and malnutrition. However, the Governmentunder his Excellency JPM genuinely wants to tackle these problems and wants to work with genuine investors who have their best interest at heart and the country’s too. In short, Tanzania to confront these socio-economic challenges requires investors with a higher moral grounding that genuinely want to make a difference and act in good faith.
The Friedkin Group can no longer continue operating in Tanzania in their old, archaic, colonial style. Tanzania has changed and so has the Government. In fact, this forum providesthe Friedkin Group with the platform to self-evaluate itself as a Company with regards to their modus of operandi in Tanzania. This critical self-reflection or self-analysis is important for the Group to make any form of headway in the country. A 30 year span of non-profitability, tax evasion scams/plots and lack of indigenous African key executive officers in the company can no longer suffice. Sending Mr Negre to solicit more friends ( which is well-known in official circles) in high places to resolve their dispute with the Government of Tanzania will not change their predicament! An absolute about turn or reverse in their approach in attitude, management and ethics is a prerequisite for this matter to come to an amicable conclusion. It is important for the Group to realize that their flaws lie in their inherent arrogance and disrespect of the Tanzanian people and itsGovernment. The Friedkin Group’s paramount belief that their wealth is the absolute solution to mending their problems with the Government is incorrect. What the Friedkin Group needs to learn is a basic principle which is ‘integrity trumps wealth’ !
In conclusion, the same way Americans bitterly complain about the Russian interference in the American political process, is the same way Tanzanians feel about the Friedkin Group meddling with our political arena. It is no secret that the Friedkin Group have spent vast sums of money hiring an exclusive Law Firm and PR/Lobby Company to influence the International and Tanzanian media/pressto carry out an aggressive PR campaign against our Government and its senior officials in an attempt to sway our Government’sdecision in the award of one of their prime concession areas.The worrying point here is that the Friedkin Group is under the assumption that because they are not accountable to shareholders like publicly traded companies their actions and activities in countries like Tanzania cannot be scrutinized under a microscope like publicly traded companies. This fact is wrong and is simply a mere illusion. There a severe consequences in the USA for such actions and these consequences are not small.
It is well-known in all public circles thatthe Friedkin Group have threatened to leave Tanzania for a long time now (since 2013). However, they still continue to remain here - year in, year out! In all honesty, we as Tanzanians dare the Friedkin Group to leave Tanzania but not prior to them settling their tax liabilities. Upon settling their debts, they will be more than welcome to leave and go prey on any other third world state! Take note, Tanzania will survive long after the Friedkin Group move on to predate and abuse other underdeveloped nations like Tanzania.
For Dan Friedkin, my simple advice is, you are fortunate to have inherited such wealth, such wealth if correctly used can make a difference not only in generating you more wealth but in also changing peoples’ lives. The question is what legacy do you want to leave behind, one tainted with negative scandals and publicity in Tanzania or one where you have actually made a positive difference in peoples’ lives! The choice is yours Mr Dan Friedkin and the time is now! Dan Friedkin, “Do the right thing”, as your motto expressed by Marc Watts so rightly states.

Geeeez dude. Give it a rest.

You wouldn't happen to have a close relative from France living on a couch in Ukraine would you?

Ban this asshat!!!!!

I think the Friedkin Group are so happy to leave all the corruption behind them!

I personally know several successful individuals who have tried setting up businesses in Africa.

Never worked.

I understand the Chinese are paying bigger bribes to the locals.

I am sitting here thinking about some of the corruption I have encountered in TZ. There have been quite a few but one warrants discussion.

In the 90’s (94 I think), I flew into Kilimanjaro. The officials pretty much didn’t give a damn what was in my bags until we got to the sat phone. Back in those days, they were quite large.

Once the official learned of the sat phone , the trouble started. They wanted to hold it. According to them, I needed a $60,000 bond to guarantee that I would take this out of the country. I knew a shakedown was coming.

I flatly refused to leave without it. I knew I would never see it again. I asked what we could do to get the phone released. He said I could make a contribution to his family! $300 later,I was on my way.

Yup. No corruption in TZ.

Sadly, I fear that my African hunting is done before I could fully experience more than what I have already done.

TZ was always out of the picture due to insane pricing. The “New” Botswana is even worse. South Africa is where I’ve been twice, but I need more. I did enjoy my hunting there, but it has been time for a change.

Zimbabwe, while there are great opportunities with great operators, it’s still the Wild West.

Zambia and Namibia seem to be the most logical options.

Oh, the OP needs some disclosure before buying into what has been posted.

What's his point in posting this shit story here
instead of where it would help better?

George

Dan Friedkin would be more than welcome in Zambia.

We look after our investors.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Dan Friedkin would be more than welcome in Zambia.

We look after our investors.

And that is how t should be.

You help someone, and instead of them being grateful, they want all your house!

Typical of lazy, no good, totally useless individuals who are shame on humanity!

I don't think "A Cry.." should be banned. He is a window into the bizarre thought processes of many in Africa. We should not forget how we as hunters are thought of, country by country, and be selective as to who and where we patronize.

Banned for what?

Expressing his opinion!

Not going to happen.

We in the US need to leave Africa to its destination, whatever that might be, its no different than Mexico and most 3rd world countries, what we call corruption, and Mexico call mordida is a way of life, a gov of its own and like most governments it has its good points and bad...We screwed up RSA, let that be our lesson to interveneing, besides it took me several years of learning how it works over there, sometimes a hundred dollar bill sure beats the hell out of several thousand dollars of red tape ...

Food for conversation!

I think we Americans are hypocritical calling out corruption in 3rd world countries.

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by nopride2:
I think we Americans are hypocritical calling out corruption in 3rd world countries.

Dave

So true isn’t it?

quote:

Originally posted by Alfredo C:

quote:

Originally posted by nopride2:
I think we Americans are hypocritical calling out corruption in 3rd world countries.

Dave

So true isn’t it?

So true

I have written a check for the max amount for a senator’s re-elections primary fund (he ran unopposed) and sent it to a public company I was invested in. The company collected the checks - put them in a fed ex envelope and sent it to the senator. The senator was on senate commerce committee and had oversight over the fcc.

I have never ever been contacted by the senator’s political party or his office ever again. The quid pro quo was clear.

The only difference between corruption in the us and elsewhere is how small the dollars are in the us to buy political influence relative to rest of the world.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by nopride2:
I think we Americans are hypocritical calling out corruption in 3rd world countries.

Dave

Sorry, but you don't know corruption until you work south of the US border... anywhere, the continent of Africa, China, India, Central Europe, Ukraine (apparently), Russia (obviously) on and on and on.

Corruption in the US by comparison is mostly centered around Washington DC.