Hanns Seidel Foundation Holds Validation Workshop to Review Tanzania Police Force Action during the 2015 General Election

For the conduction of the assessment, the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) had been selected. This is an international organisation, based in South Africa, undertaking research and providing technical support to state and non-state actors including civil society organisations, the police and new emerging oversight bodies in Africa in order to promote democratic policing through strengthening civilian oversight over the police in Africa.

The workshop took place at New Africa hotel, Dar es Salaam, where by stakeholders on security arena reviewed the draft assessment report to solicit ideas, provide suggestions and recommendations for its completion.

Opening the workshop, the HSF Resident Representative Julia Berger congratulated TPF for their good performance as it was very well rated in general by several observer missions. She believes that the good performance of the police was a result of a long term community engagement and sensitization which police had undertaken via its community policing program.  She said further that the HSF is proud to have supported this initiative under the TPF Reform Program.

Mrs. Berger called upon all invited security stakeholders to reflect on issues such as adherence to the democratic principles of policing, respecting human rights principles, and if the police acted impartially before and during the election period.

Participants discussed the report and reached consensus on the proposed priorities of the areas of improvement to ensure accountability and generate general understanding on the role of social protection in election.

Facilitated and presented by Mr. Sean Tait from APCOF, the assessment report revealed in general a highly professional performance by the TPF during the elections and recommendations in some specific areas will be included in the final report.

This workshop brought together officials from the government; international community as well as civil society organizations. One among the participants was Hon. Judge Damian Lubuva, The Chairman of the Tanzania National Electoral Commission (NEC), and the newly appointed Commissioner for Operations and Training, Mr. Nsato Marijani who contributed a lot by providing clarification on some issues that has been reflected in the assessment report.