U.S. GOVERNMENT SPONSORS ANTI-CORRUPTION TRAINING IN TANZANIA

Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA. From February 27 to March 3, U.S. trainers with expertise in rule of law conducted anti-corruption training for 15 Tanzanian investigators and prosecutors from the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and 12 prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Entitled, “A Team Approach - The Investigation and Prosecution of Corruption Cases,” the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) organized the training. Both the PCCB and the DPP contributed to the training design.

Through interactive lectures, demonstrations, and trainee participation, the event achieved two major goals. It fostered a closer working relationship between investigators and prosecutors, and it built the PCCB’s investigative and prosecutorial skills to ensure that prosecutions are conducted professionally, efficiently and fairly. To achieve these goals, the training focused on a case-study involving corruption in connection with government purchase orders.

A Tanzanian prosecutor who participated in the training told the trainers, "We have learned so much working with you as a team, especially all the interactive work. We are looking forward to using all of this in our jobs."

Specific topics addressed included understanding the complementary roles of the prosecutor and investigator in a corruption investigation; prosecutor/investigator relations; investigative techniques; evidence gathering; charging strategies; and basic trial advocacy skills.  The training culminated on March 3 with a mock trial based on a factual scenario, allowing the trainees to experience first-hand how to present gathered evidence effectively in court using the trial techniques learned in training. 

Speaking at the conclusion of the training, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Tanzania Virginia Blaser commended attendees’ dedication to Tanzania’s anti-corruption efforts, and their hard work throughout the training program. “I wish you the best as you put this training, and your newly-acquired skills, to good use as you fight corruption through strong, efficient and fair investigations and prosecutions,” she told them.

Participants of the training "A Team Approach - The Investigation and Prosecution of Corruption Cases," which was organized by the U.S. Embassy's Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and took place February 27 to March 3 in Dar es Salaam.

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Tanzania Virginia Blaser (2nd left) presenting a certificate to participant Ms. Mbumi Kisiku (left) after she completed a one-week anti-corruption training organized by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT).

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Tanzania Virginia Blaser (2nd left) presents a certificate to Mr Saleh Mbwana (left), one of the participants, after he completed a one-week anti-corruption training organized by the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT).