The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), one of the most positive and influential enforcers of democratic growth in Africa, has been bringing change all over the African continent through analysing and monitoring African countries’ activities, ultimately educating African countries how to achieve democratic practices through good governance. Tanzania has embarked on the journey toward good governance by taking part in the APRM. This CAI paper discusses APRM goals and how Tanzania could benefit from a program like the APRM.

APRM: The future of development

The APRM, available to member states of the African Union (AU),⁽²⁾ was established in 2003 to assist the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).⁽³⁾ The APRM embraces four pillars of growth, namely democracy and political governance, economic governance, corporate governance and socio-economic development.⁽⁴⁾ It acts as a monitoring body that helps countries focus on growth within their states. Its structure includes a forum, panel and secretariat, which are all designed to support and oversee the development of the APRM process.

The APRM is a strong advocate of good governance and uses 8 basic indicators to ascertain whether a state is making progress toward democracy or not. These are as follows: gender equality, well established legal frameworks, transparency, accountability, inclusivity in society, effectiveness and efficiency, and responsiveness.⁽⁵⁾

The APRM process includes a country self-assessment report, as well an assessment by the APRM Panel, which consists of experts from around Africa.⁽⁶⁾ Two different perspectives of the same country combine to present an objective and realistic view of a country’s growth on national and continental levels. So far, Tanzania has completed the self-assessment report and African leaders are positive that Tanzania is truly going to benefit from taking part in the APRM process.⁽⁷⁾ Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard Membe, recently revealed that Tanzania’s 2011/12 budget includes a Sh 2 billion (approximately US $ 1.22 million) allocation to further APRM implementation.⁽⁸⁾

Tanzania: Strengths and challenges

According to the Freedom House Country Report of 2011, Tanzania’s status is ‘partly free’ ⁽⁹⁾ because good governance and democracy are being achieved slowly. Tanzania is an electoral democracy that has structures in its government and legislation which illustrate its growing democracy. After the Republic of Tanzania was formed in 1964, Tanzania was politically dominated by the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party until 1995.⁽¹⁰⁾ Since the late 1990s, healthy competition between political parties has been encouraged. The country’s constitution supports freedom of speech, religious and academic freedom as well as women’s rights.⁽¹¹⁾ Tanzania also has a good record human rights record.⁽¹²⁾

Economically, Tanzania is ranked 15th out of 46 Sub-Saharan African countries ⁽¹³⁾ and its economy is growing stronger as Tanzania encourages foreign direct investments, maintains competitive tax rates and hosts a growing private sector.⁽¹⁴⁾ Foreign investors see the potential in Tanzania and are attracted to the political stability of the state, which is fundamentally reflected in the constitutional recognition of its citizens’ democratic rights.

Unfortunately, issues like corruption, the influx of refugees from neighbouring African countries and drug trafficking hinder the country’s development. Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index ranked Tanzania 116th out of 178 countries in 2010, with 178 being the most corrupt country.⁽¹⁵⁾ As a result of widespread corruption, the Government implemented an Anti-corruption Bill in 2007,⁽¹⁶⁾ however, this Bill has been heavily criticised as ineffective. Progress with the APRM program could therefore make a significant contribution to the reduction of corruption in the country.

There are over 500,000 refugees in Western Tanzania, 100,000 of which are children under the age of 5.⁽¹⁷⁾ The refugees come from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.⁽¹⁸⁾ Tanzania created the Refugee Act (1998) and the National Refugee Policy (2003) to support and care for refugees. The National Refugee Policy specifically protects refugee children by giving them access to health care and education.⁽¹⁹⁾ The issue of refugee safety and rights is important and the APRM could strengthen relevant institutions and support networks, in order to develop appropriate responses to deal with the large number of refugees in the country.

Human and drug trafficking have also been recognised as major problems. Government attempts to tackle the issue include the introduction of the Anti-Trafficking Persons Act in 2008.⁽²⁰⁾ Trafficking was linked to money laundering and by 2006 the Anti-Money Laundering Act was passed.⁽²¹⁾ As with refugees, human and drug trafficking are international issues that need at least a regional-level coordinated response. The APRM program could position Tanzania as a leader amongst its neighbours in dealing with trafficking through establishing the networks and resources necessary to enforce existing laws, and coordinating regional laws for increased efficiency in the fight against trafficking.

The way forward

Tanzania has proved that it is a relatively stable country that is starting to attract foreign investments in an ever-growing private sector. Through the APRM process, Tanzanian institutions will become stronger and more effective. The fact that Tanzania has chosen to analyse its problems and strengths by putting itself forward to take part in the APRM bodes well for the future of the state. It shows that this is a country that is willing to grow, learn and better itself for the sake of its people and the continent.

NOTES:

(1) Contact Monica Gameiro through Consultancy Africa Intelligence’s Optimistic Africa Unit (optimistic.africa@consultancyafrica.com).
(2) ‘Member countries’, APRM, http://aprm-au.org.
(3) ‘Tanzania country self-assessment report’, APRM Tanzania, July 2009, http://www.aprmtanzania.org.
(4) ‘About the APRM’, APRM, http://aprm-au.org.
(5) Punyaratabandhu, S., 2004. “Commitment to good government, development and poverty reduction: Methodological issues in the evaluation of progress at national and local levels”, http://www.un.org.
(6) Hassan Abassi, ‘APRM Tanzania lauded as champion of good governance’, Shout-Africa, 1 December 2010, http://www.shout-africa.com.
(7) Ibid.
(8) Lucas Liganga, ‘Dar to implement AU governance plan’, The Citizen, 25 July 2011, http://thecitizen.co.tz.
(9) ‘Country report: Tanzania (2011)’, Freedom House, http://www.freedomhouse.org.
(10) ‘Tanzania’, CIA: World Fact Book, https://www.cia.gov.
(11) Ibid.
(12) ‘Tanzania country self-assessment report’, APRM Tanzania, July 2009, http://www.aprmtanzania.org.
(13) ‘Tanzania’, Economic Freedom Index 2011, http://www.heritage.org.
(14) Ibid.
(15) ‘Corruption Perceptions Index 2010 results’, Transparency International, 2010, http://www.transparency.org.
(16) ‘Country report: Tanzania (2011)’, Freedom House, http://www.freedomhouse.org.
(17) ‘Tanzania country self-assessment report’, APRM Tanzania, July 2009, http://www.aprmtanzania.org.
(18) ‘Tanzania’, CIA: World Fact Book, https://www.cia.gov.
(19) ‘Tanzania country self-assessment report’, APRM Tanzania, July 2009, http://www.aprmtanzania.org.
(20) ‘Tanzania’, CIA: World Fact Book, https://www.cia.gov.
(21) ‘Tanzania country self-assessment report’, APRM Tanzania, July 2009, http://www.aprmtanzania.org.

Written by Monica Gameiro ⁽¹⁾