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2007 Assessment

Tanzania: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Tanzania: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Civil Society Organizations
Indicators		Score
1	Are anti-corruption/good governance CSOs legally protected?	100
2	Are good governance/anti-corruption CSOs able to operate freely?	42
3	Are civil society activists safe when working on corruption issues?	67
4	Can citizens organize into trade unions?	75

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Are anti-corruption/good governance CSOs legally protected?

1a: In law, citizens have a right to form civil society organizations (CSOs) focused on anti-corruption or good governance.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Non-Governmental Organizations Act of 2002

[ LINK ]

1b: In law, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs are free to accept funding from any foreign or domestic sources.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Nongovernmental Organizations Act of 2002

[ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: I think it is important for the civil service organizations to have foreign sources of funds due to the nature of the economy of this country. They can hardly get funding from the government.

1c: In law, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs are required to disclose their sources of funding.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Nongovernmental Organizations Act of 2002

[ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: So far, there is no law that compels the disclosure of funding sources.

Are good governance/anti-corruption CSOs able to operate freely?

2a: In practice, the government does not create barriers to the organization of new anti-corruption/good governance CSOs.

Score:

100

Comments: Registration of civil society organizations (CSOs) can be delayed if they are viewed negatively by authorities. For example, registration of a coordinating body for CSOs active in policy advocacy, the Policy Forum, was delayed for about three years before its registration was granted.

References: Gertrude Mugizi Coordinator of Policy Forum Feb. 15, 2007

Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007

Peer Review Comments: Last year, there was intimidation against HAKI ELIMU, a non-governmental organization that monitors good governance.

2b: In practice, anti-corruption/good governance CSOs actively engage in the political and policymaking process.

Score:

100

Comments: Civil society organizations (CSOs) are officially engaged in PER process and official poverty monitoring, but participation is, to a high degree, "managed" by government, and CSO input is not maximized.

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007

Peer Review Comments: As stated by the researcher, civil society organizations are allowed participation in several policy forums, but their influence is often overlooked at the expense of political interests when it comes to the enactment of laws or the implementation of programs. Because of this state of affairs, one cannot talk about a vibrant and powerful civil society in Tanzania. In fact, the government makes these groups look timid and helpless in the public eye.

2c: In practice, no anti-corruption/good governance CSOs have been shut down by the government for their work on corruption-related issues during the study period.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned is there were no CSOs shut down by the government or forced to cease operations because of their work on corruption-related issues during the study period. NO: A NO score is earned if any CSO has been effectively shut down by the government or forced to cease operations because of its work on corruption-related issues during the study period. The causal relationship between the cessation of operations and the CSO\'s work may not be explicit, however the burden of proof here is low. If it seems likely that the CSO was forced to cease operations due to its work, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments: Hakielimu, an educational rights and governance civil society organization, was forbidden from engaging with any school in the country due to government censure of some of its advocacy work, including publications and media advertising.

References: Rakesh Rajani Founding Chairman of Policy Forum Sept. 20, 2007

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007

Peer Review Comments: In practice, no civil society has been completely suspended from doing their work, but there has been some intimidation that frustrates some of these organizations that strive to instill the spirit of good governance.

Peer Review Comments: The government later gave in to public pressure and negative media coverage and rescinded its earlier decision to ban Hakielimu from running some of its programs, mainly in the area of educational system governance.

Are civil society activists safe when working on corruption issues?

3a: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been imprisoned.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no CSO activists imprisoned because of their work covering corruption. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if any activist was jailed in relation to work covering corruption. The causal relationship between the official charges and the person\'s work may not be explicit, however the burden of proof here is low. If it seems likely that the person was imprisoned due to his or her work, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments: Civil society organization (CSO) activists were arrested in Muritangos (Kiteto District) for supporting local populations protesting eviction from an area that had been arbitrarily declared a Wildlife Area for the benefit of commercial tourist interests.

In another incident in Yaeda Chini (Mbulu), a CSO monitor was arrested for questioning the allocation of hunting rights to an Arab king.

References: Helen Kijo Bisimba Executive Director Legal and Human Rights Centre Sept. 24, 2007

Media reference to be added

3b: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been physically harmed.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of CSO activists covering corruption being assaulted in the specific study period. A YES score can be earned if there was an attack but it was clearly unrelated to the activist\'s work. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases during the study period of assault to an activist who covers corruption. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Helen Kijo Bisimba Executive Director Legal and Human Rights Centre Sept. 24, 2007

Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007

3c: In practice, in the past year, no civil society activists working on corruption issues have been killed.

Score:

YES

$Scoring Criteria :: YES: A YES score is earned if there were no documented cases of CSO activists being killed because of their work covering corruption in the specific study period. YES is a positive score. NO: A NO score is earned if there were any documented cases during the study period where a person was killed related to a corruption trial, scandal or investigation. The relationship between a mysterious death and an individual\'s history may not be clear, however the burden of proof here is low. If it is reasonable that a person was killed in relation to his or her work on corruption issues, then the indicator is scored as a NO. Corruption is defined broadly to include any abuses of power, not just the passing of bribes.$

Comments:

References: Ibid

Can citizens organize into trade unions?

4a: In law, citizens have a right to organize into trade unions.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: The Employment and Labor Relations Act No. 7 of 2004

Trade Union Act Cap 244 (R.E. 2002)

4b: In practice, citizens are able to organize into trade unions.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Brian Cooksey Sept. 20, 2007 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Peer Review Comments: In Tanzania there are several active trade unions; some have assisted their members in seeking justice, especially when their rights were violated.