JOHANNESBURG-AUGUST 7TH 2023. Following the re-establishment of national structures and Tanzania’s invitation, the APRM Continental Secretariat Technical team led by Prof. Eddy Maloka was in Dar es Salaam from August 1st to 5th 2023 to assess the APRM process in the country and provide support for the national structures. Prof. Eddy Maloka was accompanied by Mr Ferdinand Katendeko, Ag. Director of Operations, and Mr. Emmanuel Merissa, Country Coordinator of Tanzania, and Ms Arlette Yemek of the CEOs Office. The Continental Secretariat team first met the APRM National Secretariat, led by Mr Lamau Mpolo, and his team, as well as the Chairperson of the National Governing Council, Professor Hasa Mlawa of the University of Dar Es Salaam.
During the meetings, a number of presentations on APRM processes were made and a roadmap drawn for the second-generation country review, which will be carried in October/ November 2023, and the Country Review Report be presented during the 33rd APR Forum Summit due in February 2024. The APRM National Secretariat indicated that work on the Country Self-Assessment Report, focusing on four of the five thematic areas, was underway and would be finalized by October 2023, paving way for the launch of the Country Review Mission. The visiting team was further informed that the budget for the second- generation Country Review had been provided for by the Tanzanian Government.
On the last day, 5th August 2023, the Continental Secretariat team partook workshop with academics, civil society, the media, the faith leaders, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about the APRM process in Tanzania. The CEO, in his remarks, praised Tanzania for its stability and efforts to promote gender equality as evidenced in the Presidency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African cooperation being led by women. He went on to indicate that Tanzania could participate in either targeted reviews or comprehensive second-generation country review. Ambassador Fatma Rajab, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania, in her statement, stated that H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, was committed to the APRM and that Tanzania was a champion of good governance.
After the workshop, the mission made two courtesy calls, the first of which paid on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and APRM Focal Point in Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Stergomena Tax, who affirmed that the country was progressing in the APRM. She stated that the first country review report was useful and that the progress report was ready for presentation at the APR Forum Summit. The Focal Point added that the country was prioritizing the APRM and requested assistance from the APRM Continental Secretariat.
Professor Maloka and his delegation later paid another courtesy call to the Minister of state in the President’s office in charge of public service management and good governance, Honourable George Simbachawene (MP). The Minister lauded Tanzania’s partnership with the APRM and pointed out that reforms were being carried out nationally in line with recommendations from the first APR Review Report. On his part, Professor Maloka commended and thanked H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan and the People of Tanzania for embracing APRM process.
It is to be recalled that Tanzania, under President Benjamin Mkapa, acceded to the Mechanism in 2004. It subsequently undertook its base review in 2012 and was peer-reviewed in 2013. H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the Country Review Report in 2017 when she was Vice-President of Tanzania.
