Govt challenged to improve openness, accountability

Govt challenged to improve openness, accountability

By Correspondent

30th June 2015

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Twaweza Executive Director Aidan Eyakuze

 The government has been challenged to improve its structuring to be more open, accountable and responsible to its people.

 

The challenged was levied by Twaweza Executive Director Aidan   Eyakuze in an exclusive interview with The Guardian recently in Dar es Salaam.

 

“The government must collaborate fully with other stakeholders including civil societies to develop openness and transparency,” he said.

 

“Once the government and civil society work together, with varying degrees of engagement, partnership and success, it will eventually help to develop and implement ambitious open government reforms, “he added.

 

According to him, the move will guarantee implementation of laws that recognise and protect the freedom of expression among others.

 

Executive Director Eyakuze went on to emphasise the need for whistle-blower protection and removal of unwarranted restrictions and controls on civil society organisations.

 

“We also advocate for the repeal of secrecy laws,” he added.

 

The executive director said the government must also make space for meaningful dialogue on major issues pertaining to good governance.

 

“Sometimes dialogue can be uncomfortable, especially when other players raise challenges to the government,” he admitted but instated that; “unless the government creates space for dialogue with other stakeholder’s especially civil society organisations, it cannot hope to succeed.”

 

“Stakeholders from all cadres must accept the reality that setbacks our common journey towards a changed culture of governance,” he noted.

 

Assenting to the controversial Media Services and Access to Information Bills in May this year, President Jakaya Kikwete said they promote democracy and transparency. According to President Kikwete, the growth of media freedom is evident in the fact that there are now more privately owned media houses than ever before.

 

“I hope these media bills will be tabled in the ongoing session of the National Assembly and they will be the last bills to assent to law in my ten years leadership,” he said.

 

 Commenting on two other heavily contested bills, the Statistics and Cybercrime bills which the President has already assented to laws, he said people with opposing views should submit them to the relevant authorities instead of just complaining.

 

“I believe in reconciliation, if there are people with genuine views then they should take them to the relevant authorities instead putting pressure on the government,” he said.

 

 President Kikwete further said that the government was not working under threats of some development partners on the gist of donor fund withdraw but rather on good authority and merit of the laws.

 

Nonetheless, the president said he is considering the possibility of meeting with civil organisations before his tenure in office ends (in two months) to listen to them and resolve their complaints.