News

The General Secretary of the Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Mr. Wilson Mukama, visited Berlin, Germany from the 3rd to the 7th of December, 2011 together with FES Resident Director Dr. Stefan Chrobot, Mr. Amon Petro (FES Project Officer) and Mr. Edward Mpongolo (CCM).

The visit was organized by FES Tanzania and Berlin offices as an exchange on social and democratic values in political leadership between Tanzania and Germany. Mr. Mukama participated in the international conference: "Shaping Change in Turbulent Times" which was opened by the Chair of the Socialdemocratic Party in Germany (SPD), Mr. Sigmar Gabriel, and the leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialist and Democrats in the European Parliament, Mr. Martin Schulz.

Besides of meeting with SPD Chairperson Sigmar Gabriel, Mr. Mukama also met with Mrs. Andrea Nahles (General Secretary SPD), Dr. Peter Struck (Chairperson FES), Dr. Bärbel Kofler (Member of Parliament), Mr. Wolfgang Schmidt (City of Hamburg) and many other German and international political leaders to discuss their respective political views and experiences as well as the international relations between political parties.

The FES Tanzania Office organized a Young Leaders' Forum in Dar es Salaam from the 10 - 13 October 2011 as a follow-up to the regional planning meeting held in July this year. Young Leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, North Sudan and Tanzania from political parties, trade unions, civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations participated in the Forum. The theme of the Forum was the enhancement of the participation of young leaders in the democratization process in the region and the main objectives were to strengthen the dialogue between young leaders on issues relating to democracy, good governance and leadership in the region. Furthermore, the goal was to strengthen future cooperation and develop strategies to increase the influence and participation of young leaders in the integration processes in the region.

Broadly, the Forum highlighted issues surrounding regional integration, the challenges and potential of integration on a political, social and economic level, and the role of young leaders in shaping a regional integration that is democratic, people-centred and based on the values of good governance.

The conference was officially opened from one of the Tanzanian Parlamentarians of the East African Legislative Assembly Hon. Dr. George Nangale. Next to him the honoured guest speakers provided valuable insight and knowledge for discussions on the above topics from diverse perspectives. Hon. Zitto Kabwe (Chadema), the shadow minister for Finance and Economic Affairs and Hon. Dr. Mary Mwanjelwa (CCM), a Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC), graced the Forum with their presence. Other presenters were Mr. Moses Kulaba from Agenda Participation 2000, Dr. Azaveil Lwaitama, Senior Lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam and Mr. Lyandro Komakech from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

The launch of the Vision East Africa Forum marks the end of a yearlong deliberation and conceptualization process and the beginning of the work of a supra-national think tank concerning the regional integration of the East African Community. The objective of the Forum will be to provide for an evidence-based decision making process which focuses on democratic principles, social justice, equality and people’s rights. With the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Vision East Africa Forum was formed and launched on the 6th of October 2011 in Arusha, the “capital of East Africa”, so Dr. Stefan Chrobot, Resident Director of the Tanzania Office of the FES. The launching ceremony was attended by the Minister for East African Cooperation Hon. Samuel Sitta and the Secretary General of the East African Community Dr. Richard Sezibera, who launched the Forum officially. Both appreciated guests underlined the importance of this think tank and expressed their hopes that the Forum will play a vital part in the discussions on the integration process of the EAC.

The Vision East Africa Forum brings together representatives from the three country chapters in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, which consist of critical thinkers and individuals interested in fostering a people-centered and democratic integration process of the EAC and were set up with the support of the respective FES offices. National chapters in Burundi and Rwanda are yet to be set up, but the attending representatives from the two countries showed sincere interest in fostering national chapters in their countries.

Transcripts of speeches: Dr. Stefan Chrobot, Hon. Samuel Sitta, Dr. Richard Sezibera

Press Reflection: an article by Dr. Lwaitama

The FES Tanzania and Uganda offices in collaboration with political party youth leagues in the Eastern Africa region organized a regional conference to discuss the social and democratic values of party political actors in the region. The conference under the theme of Eastern Africa Political Party Youth Leagues: strengthening Political Party Youth Leagues and their roles in the Regional Integration in Africa, brought together political party repre­sentatives from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South and North Sudan.

The main objectives of a conference which took place in Kampala were to create a platform to discuss social and democratic values between party political actors in the region; to discuss and develop a structure for future collaboration between political parties youth leagues actors in the region.

The conference was also graced by the presence of Hon. Wilson Mukama, the Secretary General of Tanzania ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Addressing the participants, Hon. Mukama underscored the importance of internal party reforms as a response to strengthen internal democracy.

Please see this link for press comments.

The two-day session of the 3rd YLTP weekend sessions in 2011 took place on the 19th and 20th of August in the FES Conference Hall in Dar es Salaam. The theme of the first day was the integration process within the East African Community (EAC) and the role that young leaders can assume in influencing the development of the Community. The training included input regarding theories of regional integration, as well as the history, structure and functions of the EAC. In groups, trainees discussed how young leaders could participate in ensuring the development of democratic structures within the EAC’s decision-making bodies, influence policy-making and ensure that the integration within the EAC is people-centred, based on democratic values and good governance.

The theme of the second day was Critical Discourse Analysis where tools and mechanisms were taught to help young leaders engage in critical analysis of themselves as leaders, of political events, media coverage and communication in general. Aside from the theoretical background of CDA, the trainees participated in constructive and lively discussions, among other things regarding the qualities and values of good leadership, for instance honesty, integrity, working for the good of the people without personal gain and being able to engage critically with society and in the political arena. Conclusively, CDA was seen as a useful tool in assisting the young leaders acquire leadership skills and help them objectively analyse and understand political events, decisions and motives.

In August, the FES Tanzania and a small group of both local and internation­al organisations met to discuss the issue of allowances in Tanzania. The main purpose of the meeting was for participants to share their experiences with allowance practices and to discuss how and if it affects their work. Another issue was whether the participating organisations would be inter­ested in working together to understand the practice, its history and develop­ment, and to find a way to move forward.

Many organisations, especially smaller ones, are struggling with the fact that the culture of paying allowances to participants attending for instance meetings, capacity building workshops or doing research is a practice that hinders the work of CSOs, NGOs and other advocacy organisations. The issue is extremely complex and sensitive in Tanzania, incorporating many dimensions and is observable on a governmental level, amongst civil ser­vants and within many levels of civil society and non-governmental work.

In concluding the meeting, it was decided that the participating organisa­tions are interested in starting a process and working together. The first step will be a further meeting to explore the issue on an historical level, looking at socio-cultural, socio-economic, and political contributing factors. Only through understanding where the allowance culture comes from, how it has developed and the reasons behind it will it be possible to discuss possible solutions that could strengthen democratic structures, civil society and promote development.

The two day regional preparation and planning meeting organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Tanzania office ended with aplomb! The meet­ing offered a chance to network and dialogue amongst the pro-democratic young leaders from the diverse sectors of civil society and government institutions from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, North and South Sudan and Tanzania. Furthermore the participants were able to propose feasible structure of interactions and networking amongst the young leaders in the region.

Conclusively, having realized the significance of democratic dialogue in the region, the young leaders developed the thematic areas which will be comprehensively discussed in the follow up meeting later this year.

On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day the FES Tanzania office launched the African Media Barometer for Tanzania in co-operation with MISA, UNESCO, the Media Council of Tanzania and the Media Owners Association of Tanzania.

Reginald Mengi (Media Owners Association of Tanzania), Dr. Stefan Chrobot (FES), Bujago Kadago (MISA), former Chief Justice Augustino Ramadhani, Vibeke Jensen (UNESCO); Photo: ©Khalfan Said, The Guardian

Transcript of Dr. Stefan Chrobot's speech held at the event

The regionalisation of the East African Community (EAC) is confronted with several challenges:

1. Regional integration is often implemented in a top-down manner; partici­pation and consultation procedures are not being utilised to a satisfactory extent.

2. Decision making processes in the region frequently lack transparency; the public awareness of who is influencing decision and policy-making is low.

3. There is still a lack of awareness of regionalisation processes and their effects among broad sections of the population.

Last year FES invited representatives of the Civil Society for a consultative meeting to collect ideas of how the Civil Society can be involved into the regionalisation process. This forum decided on the formation of an EAC Vision Group that is aiming for discussing an alternative and people-centred vision of regionalisation in the East African Community. The Tanzanian Chap­ter is the starting point to develop a regional concept that will involve similar groups from the other member states. Based on this it is intended to establish a regional EAC Vision Group.

Tanzania has made a further step towards including the Civil Society into the regionalisation process with launching the EAC Vision Group by the Minister for East African Co-operation Honourable Samuel Sitta on the 21st of April, 2011.

Hon. Samuel Sitta told the participants: “The government should put in place proper mechanism to involve people and civil organisations at every stage.”

With this step towards a people-driven regionalization the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung was applauded by the participants and the minister for supporting and facilitating this project with their political advice.

The year 2011 started with the visit of Dr. Bärbel Kofler (SPD). The Member of Parliament spent five days with the FES Team and participated in activities with NGO’s and the party Chama cha Mapinduzi. Debates and Lectures by Dr. Kofler initiated discussions about current issues and lessons that could be learnt from the exchange from Germany and Tanzania.

Asha Abdallah, Organization Secretary CCM; Dr. Bärbel Kofler, MP SPD; Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, second Vice President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar; Dr. Stefan Chrobot, Resident Director FES; Vuai Ali Vuai, Publicity Secretary CCM

Dr. Stefan Chrobot, Resident Director FES; Dr. Bärbel Kofler, MP SPD; Hon. Pius Mse­kwa, Vice Chairman of CCM; Hon. John Chiligati, MP and Secretary of Ideology and Publicity for CCM