Tanzania has invited the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Review Mission (CRM) to visit Tanzania from March 2-23, this year.

 A statement availed to this paper from the APRM office in the country said the mission would comprise experts from other African countries.

It said it will interact and consult extensively with governance stakeholders, including government officials, parliamentarians, representatives of political parties, the business community, representatives of civil society including media, academia, trade unions, civil society organizations (CSOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), rural communities and development partners.

“The consultations will serve to build consensus with governance stakeholders on governance challenges and steps needed to address the same,” said the statement.

APRM is a voluntary instrument of the member states of the African Union to monitor progress in good governance in their countries. 

A country assesses itself first and then it is reviewed by other African countries (peers).

According to the statement, the overarching objective is to foster the adoption of standards, policies and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental integration.

Tanzania is among 33 countries participating out of 54 African countries after signing the accession MOU on July 23 2004, which was ratified by the National Assembly in February 2005.

The internal assessment was successfully accomplished by producing the Country Self-Assessment Report and the National Programme of Action in July 2009.

It said the Country Review Mission is expected to produce the Country Review Report and the final National Programme of Action. The latter comprises strategic actions that are aimed at addressing the governance challenges afflicting our country.

The APR process will be repeated after every four years in order to sustain governance dialogue and continuously improve the demand side of accountability in the country.