Tanzania: APRM team leader, CEO’s commend Kikwete administration
By Special Correspondent – The team leader of the visiting panel of country review mission under the auspices of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Barrister Akere Muna has commended President Jakaya Kikwete for being one of the African politicians who pioneered the governance self-assessment mechanism.
The APRM team leader to Tanzania, Barrister Akere Muna with APRM Tanzania member of the Government Council, Prof. Ruth Meena listens carefully in one of the sessions with stakeholders
Barrister Muna, whose position was supported by two renowned businessmen in Tanzania, the chairman of the IPP group of companies, Reginald Mengi and Arnold Kilewo respectively, was speaking during a breakfast session between the visiting team and the business community in Tanzania which was held in Dar es Salaam on Monday.
“President Kikwete is one of the African pioneers of the APRM process. His involvement dates back to the times he was the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs,” said Barrister Muna a Cameroonian legal practitioner. He showcased his belief that under the President Kikwete administration’s willingness to have its systems reviewed under the APRM, Tanzanians stand a chance to attract tremendous social, democratic and political developments.
Speaking in the session Mr. Mengi commended the APRM process for furthering the dialogue between the government and its people. He praised president Kikwete as one of the Presidents in Africa who are keen to listening to their people.
“Under the President we believe our recommendations will be taken as constructive and be accommodated to help our country develop,” said Mr. Mengi who wanted more government oriented policies which mandate foreign companies to set specific shares to allow local ownership.
The same opinion was aired by a seasoned businessman Mr. Kilewo who apart from commending President Kikwete on joining and implementing the APRM process advised the government to ensure that policies are deliberately made to allow Tanzanians benefit from the huge mineral reserves.
The 20 member visiting APRM panel to Tanzania has finalized its sessions with Tanzanian stakeholders and will embark on writing its recommendations which would later on be submitted to the government for action.
APRM as a uniquely African self assessment mechanism on areas of governance, democracy and economic management, was incepted in 2003 by African Heads of States and Government and has to date attained a 32 out of 54 African countries.
