Kikwete to defend governance as APRM marks 10 Years
By Hassan Abbas, Addis Ababa – President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania is expected to submit and defend his countries governance assessment report before an African Union governance assessment panel-the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) here today (Saturday).
The submission of the Tanzanian report is historic as it comes at a time the African wide governance instrument launches its celebrations to mark 10 Years of Service the African people.
According to a program of events released by the APRM Continental Secretariat the presentation of the Tanzanian and Zambia governance assessment reports will be preceded by a colourful event where selected African Presidents will participate on a debate to reflect on the APRM governance work and managing diversities in Africa.
African leaders expected to participate in the debate are Hailemariam Desalegn, (Prime Minister of Ethiopia); Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Algeria), Dr Boni Yayi, (Benin), Armando Emilio Guebuza (Mozambique), Dr Goodluck E. Jonathan (Nigeria), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Jacob Zuma (South Africa) and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (Uganda).
Four countries of Cape Verde, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia are scheduled to sign instruments to join the APRM making it a total of 35 countries out of 54 AU member states.
Affirming his countries commitment to the APRM process, President Kikwete told a gathering of governance stakeholders in Dar es Salaam in March, 2012 when launching the external review for his country emphasizing that: “Tanzania acceded to the APRM because we are in total agreement with its objective of promoting good governance in African nations.
The APRM process has been a useful tool in building the capacity on monitoring governance, developing partnerships and enhancing advocacy for efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in leadership. I am proud of the APRM process and I am also proud to be part of showcasing Africa’s innovative thinking with regard in promoting in the whole concept of good governance.”
The submission of the Report Tanzania is expected to be followed by the implementation of a Five Year National Programme of Action (NPoA) to mitigate the governance challenges raised in the report.
