APRM Country Review Mission

Hon. Bernard K. Membe, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in talks with H.E. Barrister Akere Muna, the Lead Panelist for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Review Mission (CRM) in Tanzania. H.E. Barrister Akere Muna paid a courtesy call to the Minister yesterday in his office in Dar es Salaam. (Photo by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation).

By ASSAH MWAMBENE

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon Bernard K. Membe (MP) has said Tanzania was ready to be assessed by the African Peer Review Mechanism and called all the stakeholders to cooperate with the review team to provide authentic information on how the government has excelled or failed.

Speaking before the visiting APRM assessment team, the Minister saidTanzania, as it has been in the past has always been readily available for public self assessment with a view of being more accountable to the people.

"as one of the countries that has always cherishes values of good governance and transparency in the way the government discharges its duties to the publc we are more than ready to be advised, we are ready to face the challenges and we are readyto be assessed" the Minister told the APRM delegation from the African Union.

He said Tanzania was particularly happy that the assessment was coming at the time when Tanzania was currently in the process to review its constitution, something he said signifies that Tanzania wa seriously commited to uphold values of democracy, good governance and accountability.

He also assured the review mission that it was his hope that the most the stakeholders

especially from the media, the Civic Societies and the private sector would participate effectively in the assessment exercise.

The Minister said the peer review mechanism as pioneered by the African Union was one of the best opportunity for any country aspiring to do the best for her people to improve upon on areas that performed badly.

He thanked the lead panelist of the Country Review Mission, Barrister Akere Muna for paying a courtesy call on him and assured him of the government's readiness to cooperate with the review team.

The team is aimed at interviewing a wide range of stakeholders in both parts f the mainland on the performance of the government in the democracy and good governance.

Barrister Akere Muna, who is leading a 21 team is in the country for three weeks for the assessment. The report of the review mission will be tabled before the African Union Summit in Malawi in July this year.