JK: Govt will work on advice by APRM

 A Week after the country submitted its Country Review Report in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the auspices of the African Union governance assessment Mechanism, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) President Jakaya Kikwete has promised to work on all the recommendations given by his peers.

Tanzania’ and Zambia’s Country Review Reports were reviewed by African Heads of States and Governments participating in the APRM process on January 26, 2013.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Friday evening in his scheduled monthly address to the nation, President Kikwete told the nation that Tanzania has finally reached major milestones in the APRM process by submitting its report to the AU Forum.

“In Ethiopia, we participated in the Ordinary Summit of AU Heads of States and Governments and in the APRM Forum where Tanzania’s and Zambia’s reports were submitted for discussions,” he said.

He told the nation that during the peer review, many African Heads of States and Governments were pleased with governance reforms in Tanzania and the report was swiftly endorsed.

The President used the address to inform Tanzanians that there are however some areas where the government received recommendations for improvement, which his government will implement.

“In general there were no areas that we were pointed fingers at. We have been congratulated for a number of reforms and we have been advised on some areas for improvement. I had a chance to elaborate on some of the issues and we promised to work on their recommendations. Our Review Report was then endorsed,” said the President.

APRM process which celebrates 10 years in March, 2013 was adopted in 2003 with the aim of fostering reforms in diverse areas of governance to make African leadership participatory and offer a cross learning resources for Africa.

Tanzania signed the Memorandum of joining the APRM in 2004, completed formation of its national structures in 2007 and completed its Country Self Assessment Report in 2011.

Speaking in Addis Ababa last week the founders of the Mechanism Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Olessegun Obasanjo of Nigeria said the Mechanism offers unique opportunities for African governments to resolve governance issues from an African perspective and solidarity.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN