SoC04 Tanzania We want: Separating Government and Political Party Activities

[Damaso]

The Minister of Energy, January Makamba, made the statement on behalf of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania on December 19, 2022, while speaking to the Contractors at the signing ceremony of the Peri Urban III Project construction contracts between the Rural Energy Agency (REA) and the Contractors at the Julius Conference Hall Nyerere in Dar-es-Salaam. Makamba has said, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania has given specific instructions that all villages in the country should be provided with electricity on time, but the implementation of the instructions of the ruling party's manifesto and the instructions of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, the pace is not satisfactory.

Photo courtesy of TASAF.​

Manifesto is now used to describe every success of the development that the society gets from the government, manifesto is now used as a favor for Tanzanians and a way to praise the ruling party for bringing the development. Manifesto is used by rulers to bring out false hope to citizen that everything that is done is in the accordance to the best of them and it is such as favor for the citizen. Tanzania aspires to be a vibrant democracy. However, a crucial element for a healthy democracy – a distinct separation of government and political party activities – remains a work in progress. This article explores the challenges of this blurred line and proposes solutions to ensure a clear separation, fostering good governance and strengthening public trust.


Politicization of the civil service hinders its effectiveness. Imagine a young graduate applying for a position in a government ministry. Despite having the best qualifications, she is overlooked because of her affiliation with the opposition party since she has a membership card from Chadema. This politicization discourages meritocracy and undermines the neutrality of the civil service, which is crucial for impartial service delivery to all citizens. The media landscape further complicates the issue. Imagine state-owned media outlets constantly praising the ruling party's achievements while offering limited coverage to the opposition, a good case of TBC, where it is a state-owned cooperation but singing the praise of the CCM. This lack of balanced reporting hinders informed voter participation and stifles political discourse.

Photo courtesy of Millard AYo.​

Enact stricter campaign finance regulations with transparent reporting mechanisms. This ensures that all parties compete on a level playing field and that government resources are not used for partisan purposes. Imagine a system with spending limits, mandatory disclosure of campaign contributions, and independent oversight bodies to enforce regulations. Strengthen the civil service code of conduct, explicitly prohibiting partisan activities and ensuring recruitment and promotion based solely on merit. Imagine a code with clear guidelines for civil servants, including restrictions on attending political rallies and mandatory conflict-of-interest disclosures.

Guarantee editorial independence for state-owned media outlets being Television, news outlets and all that are under national paycheck. Independent editorial boards can be established to ensure balanced and objective reporting on all political parties. Imagine state-owned news channels allocating equal time slots to different parties during election periods and employing journalists with diverse political perspectives. It has been observed most of the time in the elections in Tanzania, where TBC, StarTv (Sahara Media Group) gives much of the attention to candidates from a single political party commonly being Chama cha Mapinduzi.

Photo courtesy of TBC Online.​

Encourage the growth of independent media outlets by fostering a conducive environment for free speech and media freedom. This allows for diverse voices and viewpoints to be represented in the public sphere. Imagine a landscape where private radio stations and newspapers can operate freely, offering alternative perspectives on government activities and political issues. But the situation is quite different since some news are explicit allowed to be announced by TBC which is bias per se. All media needs to have a free coverage and an expansive freedom of interacting and interviewing these political figures so the benefit of the public.

Promote public education campaigns on the importance of a separation between government and political party activities. This can foster public awareness of their rights and encourage them to hold officials accountable for ethical conduct. Imagine nationwide workshops and educational programs informing citizens about the benefits of a neutral civil service and fair election processes.

Photo courtesy of Mwananchi.​

Empower oversight institutions like the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee and the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) to effectively scrutinize the use of public resources and investigate potential cases of abuse of power for partisan gain. Imagine a Parliament with robust oversight committees holding government officials accountable for their actions and ensuring that campaign funds are used appropriately. But this is far from possible since the Director General of TAKUKURU is appointed by the President, so their power may be limited and the members of PPAC are from CCM in which the Chairperson is the President.

The journey towards a clear separation of government and political party activities will require commitment from all stakeholders. Political parties need to adapt to a system where electoral success depends on policies and ideas, not the misuse of state resources. The government must ensure a level playing field for all parties and a neutral civil service. Ultimately, fostering public trust is critical.

Photo courtesy of Global Publishers.​

Imagine a future where Tanzanians vote based on the merits of candidates and party platforms, not on their affiliation with the party in power. Imagine a government focused on delivering services to all citizens, not on promoting a specific party agenda. This separation is not just a technicality; it is the foundation of a strong democracy, ensuring a government that is accountable, fair, and responsive to the needs of all Tanzanians. The benefits are far-reaching – stronger political institutions, a more vibrant public sphere, and a nation on a trajectory towards a brighter and more democratic future.
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Tanzania We want: Separating Government and Political Party's Activities​

 

[Uhakika Bro]

Politicization of the civil service hinders its effectiveness. Imagine a young graduate applying for a position in a government ministry. Despite having the best qualifications, she is overlooked because of her affiliation with the opposition party since she has a membership card from Chadema. This politicization discourages meritocracy and undermines the neutrality of the civil service, which is crucial for impartial service delivery to all citizens

It is sad when we hear rumors like "Pss, there is a job in a goverment office, do you have a CCM membership card?, so we hook you up?" This is not good at all.

Independent editorial boards can be established to ensure balanced and objective reporting on all political parties. Imagine state-owned news channels allocating equal time slots to different parties during election periods and employing journalists with diverse political perspectives.

Careful however not to overdo this one. Because it may also leas to overepresentation of the minority, giving a false sense of 'equal in number' as the other party.

Example when interviewing members of the parliament, it is obvious the CCM one will take most of the allocated time, than CHADEMA. And CHADEMA shall have more time than NCCR-Mageuzi or CHAUSTA. If we force equal total airtime to both we shall end up favoring the few, the few will get so much individual airtime than they know what to do with. What do you think can be done to mitigate this issue sir?

Director General of TAKUKURU is appointed by the President, so their power may be limited and the members of PPAC are from CCM in which the Chairperson is the President

We can clearlly see possible biases that may contradict principles of natural justice against bias Nemo judex in causa sua

Imagine a future where Tanzanians vote based on the merits of candidates and party platforms, not on their affiliation with the party in power. Imagine a government focused on delivering services to all citizens, not on promoting a specific party agenda. This separation is not just a technicality; it is the foundation of a strong democracy, ensuring a government that is accountable, fair, and responsive to the needs of all Tanzanians. The benefits are far-reaching – stronger political institutions, a more vibrant public sphere, and a nation on a trajectory towards a brighter and more democratic future

Couldn't say it any better, nice one bro👏