Kikwete lauds APRM for objective report on state of governance

By Hassan Abbasi,Dodoma.

President Jakaya Kikwete has applaudedthe report of the Africa Union’s governance assessment body-the African PeerReview Mechanism (APRM) Tanzania chapter and underscored his governments’commitment to implement recommendations from APRM reports. President Kikwete issued thecommitment in Dodoma yesterday during a sensitization seminar to members of theruling party CCM top body, the National Executive Committee (NEC).

“APRM is like a mirror thathelps us to see ourselves where we are and what we have achieved in terms ofensuring democratic leadership and good governance and economic development inour countries.

“It is against this truththat we are more than ready to implement your recommendations when the righttime comes,” said the President. Under the process Tanzania was reviewed by anexternal panel of expert in March, 2012. 

He said he has passed throughthe report and is confident that the process was transparent enough andobjective one that’s why there are issues that the government has beencongratulated for good performance but on the other hand the report has alsorevealed governance deficits.

Earlier on, highlighting tothe NEC members on the APRM process, the chairperson of the APRM Tanzania,Prof. Hassa Mlawa on his speech read on behalf of him by an APRM Board member,Theckla Shangali commended the CCM government for acceding to the mechanism.

An APRM board member JohnMagalle Shibuda (MP) reminded the CCM members that APRM is a process thatfollows the earlier policies of TANU on self critic for correction and urged them to implement the major reports to be issued and periodic assessment.

Tanzania is currently among30 out of 54 African countries participating in the APRM process which is repeatedevery after four years o review the status of governance in the member states.