UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION (UDHRA).
EMAIL udsmhumanrights@yahoo.com
www.udhra.udsm.ac.tz
.MOB ..0717 -082228 /0754710063./0783172394
25TH April 2009
PUBLIC LECTURE ON THE REFLECTION OF 1994 GENOCIDE IN RWANDA.
UDHRA PRESIDENT, ONESMO, OLENGURUMWA CLOSING REMARKS.
Excellencies,
Doctors, lectures, stududents,
Ladies and gentlemen
It is my privilege to bring this remarkable international public lecture reflecting on 1994 genocide in Rwanda to a close.
But before I proceed I would like to bring into your awareness beautiful words said in 70 years by one Activists Pastor Martin Niemoller of German.
‘’About 70 years ago Pastor Martin Niemoller of German who lived between 1892 -1984 said ’first they came for Jews, I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. They came for the communist, I did not speak out because I was not a communist,. They came for trade unionist; I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. When they came for me, no one was left to speak out.”Niemoller said that regretting why he did not take any measures when Hitler began torturing and killing people. He thought that he was safe but later he ended up in detention camps. “
I am encouraged by your willingness to share and openly discuss actions, experiences and challenges. Working together across boundaries in this way to address the most pressing issues threatening human kind.
Together, through the Geneva Declaration and convention against genocide, we have deepened our collective commitment to embedding universal values on human kind. Yet as we all know, actions speak louder than words. So as we walk away from this every year reflections and plans to meet again next year, let us each do our share to give practical meaning to the Declaration and convention against genocide.
I call on civil society, university staff, students, media, international organizations and political leaders to remain vigilant and engaged, and continue to hold this kind of international solidarity against impunity.
Finally, let me thank the United Nations Information Centre for their invaluable contributions to this Public Lecture, as their role in fighting impunity will remain memorable. I should as well be fair to appreciate exemplary role Plaid by Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda for their open commitment to create a new Rwanda.We have to send our gratitude’s to our beloved proffer Peter Maina ,Prof,B,Rutinwa for their wonderful and educative lectures. We are glad to say thanks for Tanzania Commission For Human Rights and Good Governance for their acceptance to officiate the event.Lastily but not least ,let me acknowledge the UDSM Human rights association for their great and vigilant role in raising human rights awareness both at international and national level .
Comrades, together, we can achieve a strong spirit of Solidarity against impunity that can create the free world and better place to live. We each have a responsibility in moving our agenda forward. Let us leave here today with renewed commitment.
I now declare the 2009 Public lecture reflecting 1994 genocide in Rwanda formally closed.
“WE PROMOTE AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS”
Monday, April 27, 2009
Latest albino killings in Burundi reveal flourishing underground trade in body parts
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Posted Thursday, March 12 2009 at 12:56
“They tied up the parents of the albino boy and then chopped off his arms and legs before running away,” a police spokesperson said. “His screaming woke up the entire neighbourhood.”
Related Stories
US decries mob violence and attacks on albinos in East Africa
From the green hills of Burundi where their poisoned blood pools in the grass, the feet, fingers, arms and toes are taken across the border to Tanzania.
There, a rich underground trade flourishes, where albino body parts are in high demand.
A leg can go for $1,000, with the bones being turned into lucky charms, the blood poured into stews, to do everything from ward off evil spirits to bring luck to fisherman on Lake Victoria.
“The war against these killings becomes all the more difficult because the law does not provide for the existence of witchcraft while individuals do,” says Onesmo Olengurumwa, president of the human-rights association at the University of Dar es Salaam.
As a result, he says, albinos are forced into hiding, rarely attend school, can rarely stay employed, and fear for their lives.
Others don’t even get the chance to live in fear.
One victim of the killings last January was a seven-month old baby girl.
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Message
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Posted Thursday, March 12 2009 at 12:56
“They tied up the parents of the albino boy and then chopped off his arms and legs before running away,” a police spokesperson said. “His screaming woke up the entire neighbourhood.”
Related Stories
US decries mob violence and attacks on albinos in East Africa
From the green hills of Burundi where their poisoned blood pools in the grass, the feet, fingers, arms and toes are taken across the border to Tanzania.
There, a rich underground trade flourishes, where albino body parts are in high demand.
A leg can go for $1,000, with the bones being turned into lucky charms, the blood poured into stews, to do everything from ward off evil spirits to bring luck to fisherman on Lake Victoria.
“The war against these killings becomes all the more difficult because the law does not provide for the existence of witchcraft while individuals do,” says Onesmo Olengurumwa, president of the human-rights association at the University of Dar es Salaam.
As a result, he says, albinos are forced into hiding, rarely attend school, can rarely stay employed, and fear for their lives.
Others don’t even get the chance to live in fear.
One victim of the killings last January was a seven-month old baby girl.
Education on societal morality and public involvement has been cited as important ingredients needed to win the war against the killing of albinos. Using force alone would not solve the problem, University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) dean of students Dr Martha Qorro said when opening a debate on how to stamp out albino killings. Speaking at the event that was preceded by a demonstration around UDSM main campus, Dr Qorro said the use of force only won?t help to change the perceptions and ideologies of the people. "This is not a matter of showing ympathy or using too much force, it was a matter of changing the mindset of the people? we want to groom people into believing that all human beings are equal," said Dr Qoro. She said there was a need to conduct extensive public awareness campaign to educate people on various issues on albinism as there were a lot of misconceptions about it. Dr Qorro insisted that those engaged in the evil activities of killing fellow human beings in the belief that they might get wealthy fast should be educated. The chairperson of the Tanzania Editor?s Forum, Mrs Sakina Datoo, commended the work being done by the media but added that there was room for extensive investigative journalism to unearth more issues related to myths surrounding albino killings. "Albino killings give a dangerous sign? a sign that our country is heading the wrong direction. Everything starts slowly, when they are done with albinos, next time they will target another group of people," observed Mrs Datoo. She appealed to the public to assist the media in its work to reveal the evils taking place in society on things like albino killings so that the police can get the evidence needed to deal with culprits," she said. One of the participants, Mr George Bakari said it was dismaying that the government failed to protect a section of its people whose population is less than 400,000. The UDSM Human Rights Association chairman, Mr Olengurumwa Onesmo, said the killings create fear as no one knows which group will be targeted next. The debate was organised by the University of Dar es Salaam Human Rights Association in collaboration with German Centre for post graduate studies in Law. Its suggestions will be forwarded to the government, police and other stakeholders for implementation.
SOURCE SUNDAY OBSERVER
SOURCE SUNDAY OBSERVER
Albino killings: Acknowledge witchcraft 2009-02-15 12:06:33 By Ley Melwa
In order to win the fight against killings of people with albinism, the Government should first of all accept the fact that witchcraft exists, contrary to the laws of the land which categorically dispel such existence. The President of the University of Dar es Salaam Human Rights Association (UDHRA), Onesmo Olengurumwa, said yesterday that the Government should make that u-turn, claiming that the entire population was convinced of its presence despite the absence of scientific verification. Olengurumwa was taking part in the Mlimani Hard Talk on How to Battle Atrocious Killings of Albino in Tanzania jointly organised by the UDHRA and Tanzania-German Centre for Postgraduate Studies in Law. ``The war against these killings becomes all the more difficult because the law does not provide for the existence of witchcraft while individuals do,`` said the UDHRA chief, adding that once the problem is addressed to that an extent it would be easier to deal with the culprits. Killings of albinos are fuelled by the lust to get rich quickly. Greedy, heartless gold miners and fishermen in the Lake Zone and people in other businesses elsewhere in the country are trading in the body parts of albinos, including limbs, hair, skin and genitals which are controversially reported to enable them catch more fish or strike huge precious minerals. The belief that albinos have magical power is widespread in the superstition and witchcraft industry which tempts some politicians and business people to apply it, in order to increase their prospects for success. However, Lawyer George Bakari suggested that the Judiciary, the media, CSOs, religious leaders, politicians and communities should bolster response to weed out the deeply entrenched superstitious beliefs that incite the murders through the systematic violation of human rights. Bakari warned that nobody knows who is next after the albinos, quoting the late pastor Martin Niemoller of Germany who said, `first they came for Jews, I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. They came for the communist, I did not speak out because I was not a communist. They came for the trade unionist, I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. When they came for me, no one was left to speak out`.
SOURCE: Sunday Observer
In order to win the fight against killings of people with albinism, the Government should first of all accept the fact that witchcraft exists, contrary to the laws of the land which categorically dispel such existence. The President of the University of Dar es Salaam Human Rights Association (UDHRA), Onesmo Olengurumwa, said yesterday that the Government should make that u-turn, claiming that the entire population was convinced of its presence despite the absence of scientific verification. Olengurumwa was taking part in the Mlimani Hard Talk on How to Battle Atrocious Killings of Albino in Tanzania jointly organised by the UDHRA and Tanzania-German Centre for Postgraduate Studies in Law. ``The war against these killings becomes all the more difficult because the law does not provide for the existence of witchcraft while individuals do,`` said the UDHRA chief, adding that once the problem is addressed to that an extent it would be easier to deal with the culprits. Killings of albinos are fuelled by the lust to get rich quickly. Greedy, heartless gold miners and fishermen in the Lake Zone and people in other businesses elsewhere in the country are trading in the body parts of albinos, including limbs, hair, skin and genitals which are controversially reported to enable them catch more fish or strike huge precious minerals. The belief that albinos have magical power is widespread in the superstition and witchcraft industry which tempts some politicians and business people to apply it, in order to increase their prospects for success. However, Lawyer George Bakari suggested that the Judiciary, the media, CSOs, religious leaders, politicians and communities should bolster response to weed out the deeply entrenched superstitious beliefs that incite the murders through the systematic violation of human rights. Bakari warned that nobody knows who is next after the albinos, quoting the late pastor Martin Niemoller of Germany who said, `first they came for Jews, I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. They came for the communist, I did not speak out because I was not a communist. They came for the trade unionist, I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. When they came for me, no one was left to speak out`.
SOURCE: Sunday Observer
Wanafunzi washupalia mauaji ya maalbino 2009-02-15 12:47:50 Na Mwandishi Wetu
Wanafunzi wanachama wa chama cha kutetea haki za binadamu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, wamesema watatumia nafasi yao katika jamii kufanya mabadiliko ya kumaliza ukatili nchini kwa kuishinikiza serikali kuongeza kasi ya kudhibiti mauaji ya maalbino. Rais wa chama hicho, Onesmo Ngurumwa, aliyasema hayo jijini Dar es Salaam jana wakati wa mdahalo maalum uliojadili mauaji ya maalbino ulioandaliwa na chama hicho kwa kushirikiana na chuo kikuu kishiriki cha kimataifa cha mafunzo ya sheria cha Ujerumani. Alisema pamoja na kwamba mauaji ya maalbino yameendelea kutokea kila mara, serikali imeshindwa kushughulikia tatizo hilo kwa kasi inayostahili. Alisema ili kufanikisha mabadiliko wanayokusudia, wapo katika mkakati wa kuandaa mapendekezo ya namna ya kukabiliana na mauaji hayo ambayo watayapeleka serikalini ili yafanyiwe kazi. ``Tutabuni mikakati itakayosaidia kutokomeza ukatili wa binadamu hasa mauaji ya albino na tutayawasilisha kwa wadau ikiwemo serikali ili yafanyiwe kazi,`` alisema Ngurumwa. Mkurugenzi wa uhariri wa magazeti ya IPP, Sakina Datoo, alisema vyombo vya habari vina nafasi kubwa ya kupambana na ukatili huo. Amewataka waandishi kuendelea kuandika habari za uchunguzi kuhusu mauji ya maalbino na kuwafichua wauaji ili kutokomeza vitendo hivyo. ``Kama mnakumbuka, vyombo vya habari ndivyo vilivyofichua mauaji haya, kwa hivyo ninaamini bado waandishi wa habari wanao mchango mkubwa sana katika hili,`` alisema.
SOURCE: Nipashe
Habari za Leo
Wanafunzi wanachama wa chama cha kutetea haki za binadamu wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, wamesema watatumia nafasi yao katika jamii kufanya mabadiliko ya kumaliza ukatili nchini kwa kuishinikiza serikali kuongeza kasi ya kudhibiti mauaji ya maalbino. Rais wa chama hicho, Onesmo Ngurumwa, aliyasema hayo jijini Dar es Salaam jana wakati wa mdahalo maalum uliojadili mauaji ya maalbino ulioandaliwa na chama hicho kwa kushirikiana na chuo kikuu kishiriki cha kimataifa cha mafunzo ya sheria cha Ujerumani. Alisema pamoja na kwamba mauaji ya maalbino yameendelea kutokea kila mara, serikali imeshindwa kushughulikia tatizo hilo kwa kasi inayostahili. Alisema ili kufanikisha mabadiliko wanayokusudia, wapo katika mkakati wa kuandaa mapendekezo ya namna ya kukabiliana na mauaji hayo ambayo watayapeleka serikalini ili yafanyiwe kazi. ``Tutabuni mikakati itakayosaidia kutokomeza ukatili wa binadamu hasa mauaji ya albino na tutayawasilisha kwa wadau ikiwemo serikali ili yafanyiwe kazi,`` alisema Ngurumwa. Mkurugenzi wa uhariri wa magazeti ya IPP, Sakina Datoo, alisema vyombo vya habari vina nafasi kubwa ya kupambana na ukatili huo. Amewataka waandishi kuendelea kuandika habari za uchunguzi kuhusu mauji ya maalbino na kuwafichua wauaji ili kutokomeza vitendo hivyo. ``Kama mnakumbuka, vyombo vya habari ndivyo vilivyofichua mauaji haya, kwa hivyo ninaamini bado waandishi wa habari wanao mchango mkubwa sana katika hili,`` alisema.
SOURCE: Nipashe
Habari za Leo
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION (UDHRA)
P.O.BOX 35O93,
DAR ES SALAAM,
http://udsmhumanrights.blogspot.com.
EMAIL udsmhumanrights@yahoo.com
.MOB ..0717 -082228 /0754710063./0783172394
09ND /02/2009________________________________________
MLIMANI HARD TALK ON HOW TO BATTLE ATROCIOUS KILLINGS OF ALBINO IN TANZANIA.
THE WAY FORWARD
BY UDHRA PRESIDENT ONESMO P.OLENGURUMWA
``A person who has not met these people and listened to them can take this as a simple issue, but it is really sad. We cannot let such people continue to kill others with impunity,`` said Pinda
Whereas human rights and freedom are inherent in all human beings regardless of their races, ethnicity, religion, gender or creed, and status. Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania,particularly Artical 14 which provides that every one has the rights to live. UDHRA Pursuant to its constitution realizes the role of Universities in various matters concerning dignity and the rights of people. We conduct seminars, moot courts, workshops, panel discussions etc to raise awareness to the University community and entire country about Human rights issues,
. In the past 2 years this right has been increasingly violated in number of ways but mainly the killing of Albino. The vicious killings of Albino have become a National shame and embarrassment to our country. The current critical conditions towards Albino jeopardize their life.
Now therefore, UDHRA comes forward with the following recommendation as the way forward to end this sort of impunity.
1. The security forces, particularly Police force need to be closer to the matter to have immediate cease of the killings, saying it had negative impact to the country. Police Investigations Department should use its most endeavors to identify and reach to all people who are key engineers of the killings.
2. All people who were responsible fore killings of Albino, being directly or indirectly should be brought before the law. We as well suggest their trial to be in a different way .The ad hoc based Tribunal to prosecute the dealers and perpetrators of albino killings should be established closer to affected areas.
3. Dealing with this type of crime we need to involve the whole community to curb this problem. The principle of community based security should be encouraged. Community should vehemently condemn the killings. This is simply because all criminals are from the community; it therefore becomes easy for them to identify groups of people who are behind the killings
4. The campaigns against witchcrafts belief should be of priority. This campaign should be done in collaboration with National Council of Traditional Healers in Tanzania (BAWATA) .This will enable them to uncover fake healers and those who are fanning ritual killings..
5. This kinds of atrocities should be curbed once for all. Our country has worse history on the killings related to superstitions .We therefore suggest that we should check on the strength of security forces .There is laxity of our security forces hence this can be the reasons of this kinds of atrocities.
6. We also call up all Civil societies dealing with human rights issues in Tanzania to form a National Solidarity to condemns these heinous acts to ensure albinos like other citizens enjoy their fundamental rights to life, freedom and protection.
We lastly but not least keep on calling every one of you to take seriously the vicious killing of albino as our daily prayers.
P.O.BOX 35O93,
DAR ES SALAAM,
http://udsmhumanrights.blogspot.com.
EMAIL udsmhumanrights@yahoo.com
.MOB ..0717 -082228 /0754710063./0783172394
09ND /02/2009________________________________________
MLIMANI HARD TALK ON HOW TO BATTLE ATROCIOUS KILLINGS OF ALBINO IN TANZANIA.
THE WAY FORWARD
BY UDHRA PRESIDENT ONESMO P.OLENGURUMWA
``A person who has not met these people and listened to them can take this as a simple issue, but it is really sad. We cannot let such people continue to kill others with impunity,`` said Pinda
Whereas human rights and freedom are inherent in all human beings regardless of their races, ethnicity, religion, gender or creed, and status. Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania,particularly Artical 14 which provides that every one has the rights to live. UDHRA Pursuant to its constitution realizes the role of Universities in various matters concerning dignity and the rights of people. We conduct seminars, moot courts, workshops, panel discussions etc to raise awareness to the University community and entire country about Human rights issues,
. In the past 2 years this right has been increasingly violated in number of ways but mainly the killing of Albino. The vicious killings of Albino have become a National shame and embarrassment to our country. The current critical conditions towards Albino jeopardize their life.
Now therefore, UDHRA comes forward with the following recommendation as the way forward to end this sort of impunity.
1. The security forces, particularly Police force need to be closer to the matter to have immediate cease of the killings, saying it had negative impact to the country. Police Investigations Department should use its most endeavors to identify and reach to all people who are key engineers of the killings.
2. All people who were responsible fore killings of Albino, being directly or indirectly should be brought before the law. We as well suggest their trial to be in a different way .The ad hoc based Tribunal to prosecute the dealers and perpetrators of albino killings should be established closer to affected areas.
3. Dealing with this type of crime we need to involve the whole community to curb this problem. The principle of community based security should be encouraged. Community should vehemently condemn the killings. This is simply because all criminals are from the community; it therefore becomes easy for them to identify groups of people who are behind the killings
4. The campaigns against witchcrafts belief should be of priority. This campaign should be done in collaboration with National Council of Traditional Healers in Tanzania (BAWATA) .This will enable them to uncover fake healers and those who are fanning ritual killings..
5. This kinds of atrocities should be curbed once for all. Our country has worse history on the killings related to superstitions .We therefore suggest that we should check on the strength of security forces .There is laxity of our security forces hence this can be the reasons of this kinds of atrocities.
6. We also call up all Civil societies dealing with human rights issues in Tanzania to form a National Solidarity to condemns these heinous acts to ensure albinos like other citizens enjoy their fundamental rights to life, freedom and protection.
We lastly but not least keep on calling every one of you to take seriously the vicious killing of albino as our daily prayers.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
UNIVERSITY CRISIES
TV PROGRAM PAMBANUA 19/11/2008 CHANNEL TEN
DIALOGUE ON CURRENT UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNREST IN TANZANIA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES REASONS AND THE WAY FORWAD .
BY ONESMO P.OLENGURUMWA PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION.
PART ONE
The reason behind un endless university students strikes can be categorized into 2 groups.
Before all the public should know that students have basic claims as provided by the constitutions of Tanzania Article 11.and other relevant laws
The first category relates to crises originating from principal demands or complaints directed to the University, for example the ‘Akivaga crisis’ of 1971whose source was the undemocratic way the University was run.
Second category of the causes of crises in universities, especially Tanzanian public universities, is the declining capacity and growing unwillingness of the state to finance universities.
A reactionary, obsolete and/or irrelevant curriculum, bad and unfair examination rules and systems; shortage of learning facilities like space, books and desks; shortage of competent staff; lack of research funds, and others, are the day to day questions that lay the foundations for student unrest.
These factors have been unfairly misrepresented by the state and the state-controlled media, which always depicts students as greedy and unreasonable in their demands.
The second category can be seen as major cause of current university crises due to an abrupt and poorly established loans board for higher learning institutions. , Building viable student loan programs is difficult in countries with high and variable inflation, low data-gathering capacity and high unemployment rates even for college graduates. We can therefore say that Tanzania adopting the high leaning institutions in 1999 was a grace offence to majority of Tanzania students who are poor.2004 the High learning education loans board Act was enacted without proper research on how it can be implemented without harming the poor.
Students claim against the way the disbarments of loans are conducted.
The board has no good ways of testing economic status of students, therefore due to means testing program many students who are eligible for loans have lost that right or they get it not fully as it is provided by section 17 of the loans Act when reads mutandis mutandis with its 2005 regulations and the constitutions.
The constitutions of Tanzanian Article 11(3) provides that the government shall endeavor to ensure that there are equal and adequate opportunities to all people to enable them to acquire education and vocational training at all level of schools and learning institutions. Therefore classifying students by giving others sufficient loans and giving others inadequate loans is unconstitutional and it infringes the rights of students from poor families access to education,
Many students have been given loans inadequately and this is the basis of their claims.
This introduction describes current research on student loans by the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) and the World Bank, and draws on the conclusions of a series of Educational Forums on student loans organized by IIEP, to conclude that student loans are feasible, and can generate additional resources for higher education, but only if loan programmes are well designed and efficiently managed.
In Tanzania the repayment proportion of loans has not been very significant in most cases The element which contributes to the lack of financial viability of student loan programs is the low level of managerial efficiency, especially in public agencies, which results in high administrative costs.
According to the Act 2004 and it’s regulations of 2005 Eligible student for loans, beginning must attain the following criteria:-
Be a Tanzanian (as defined in the Act)
Have been Admitted to an accredited (recognized) Institutions as a candidate for a First Degree or Advanced Diploma.
Make a written application in the prescribed form which when approved by the Board shall form the basis of the loan contract, to be known as the Student Loan Agreement between the applicant and the Board.
Be a person who is not fully funded by other organizations or sources.
Students pursuing approved undergraduate degrees or advanced diploma courses on full time basis at recognized institutions in Tanzania.
Be a continuing student who has passed the examinations necessary to enable him to advance to the following year or stage of study.
Overseas undergraduate students under bilateral arrangements/ agreements between the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and other Governments.
The Needy students must be
v is an orphan
v is disabled or has disabled poor parents
v is from a poor single parent family
v is from marginalized and disadvantaged groups
v is from a low income threshold family earning national minimum wage or below.
The Board may before granting a loan to an applicant must seek and consider confidential appraisal report of the applicant from: sections 7 ,8, 9 and sections 10 of the 2005 high learning educations loans regulations
(a) village secretary of the village in which the applicant comes from;
(b) faith based Organization in which the applicant is a member; or
(c) a secondary school or college in which an applicant attended.
(3) Where it is proved by the Board that an applicant-
(a) is poor or disadvantaged person; and
(b) has been granted an admission letter by a higher education Institution,
.
.
Experience from other countries shows that there is good and efficiency system of granting loans to students. Student loan programs are funded from any one of the following sources:
government, the students, companies in the productive sectors, alumni and philanthropists,
and international agencies.
Venezuela, works in partnership with a commercial bank responsible for the financial evaluation of applicants, loan disbursement and collection. A similar arrangement operates in Jamaica, involving a larger number of domestic and foreign banks. In Canada and Poland, the government is only responsible for program design, interest rate subsidy, and provision of guarantees against
default. The capital used to offer loans to the students is raised by the commercial banks
themselves.
PART TWO
THE WAY FORWARD
.
v Students need to be aware of the existence and availability of the program. Second, they must understand clearly what is involved in a loan (eligibility criteria, grace period, repayment obligations, , etc) in terms of responsibilities and obligations as Article 18 (d) of constitutions.
v A good information and marketing strategy to promote the student loan program and
Ensure widespread awareness among eligible students and institutions;
v Transparent eligibility criteria to ensure that any subsidy element be targeted to the most
deserving students (academically and socially); ;
v Efficient collection mechanisms, including an appropriate legal framework, to minimize
default;
v Because the country is still poor in data collection and gathering, therefore all students in public university should be given 100%
v Means testing has proved failure ,it should therefore be stopped.
v Efficient institutional management of all key processes (evaluation and selection of
beneficiaries, academic monitoring, loan collection, financial management), based on an
adequate computerized management information system; and
v A stable management team.
v The most straightforward approach consists of requiring official income tax data to
check the family background of applicants
v of the view that, together with universities themselves, the government should play its role in finding permanent solutions aimed at pre-empting and/or preventing such crises. It should not play the role of a spectator
DIALOGUE ON CURRENT UNIVERSITY STUDENT UNREST IN TANZANIA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES REASONS AND THE WAY FORWAD .
BY ONESMO P.OLENGURUMWA PRESIDENT UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION.
PART ONE
The reason behind un endless university students strikes can be categorized into 2 groups.
Before all the public should know that students have basic claims as provided by the constitutions of Tanzania Article 11.and other relevant laws
The first category relates to crises originating from principal demands or complaints directed to the University, for example the ‘Akivaga crisis’ of 1971whose source was the undemocratic way the University was run.
Second category of the causes of crises in universities, especially Tanzanian public universities, is the declining capacity and growing unwillingness of the state to finance universities.
A reactionary, obsolete and/or irrelevant curriculum, bad and unfair examination rules and systems; shortage of learning facilities like space, books and desks; shortage of competent staff; lack of research funds, and others, are the day to day questions that lay the foundations for student unrest.
These factors have been unfairly misrepresented by the state and the state-controlled media, which always depicts students as greedy and unreasonable in their demands.
The second category can be seen as major cause of current university crises due to an abrupt and poorly established loans board for higher learning institutions. , Building viable student loan programs is difficult in countries with high and variable inflation, low data-gathering capacity and high unemployment rates even for college graduates. We can therefore say that Tanzania adopting the high leaning institutions in 1999 was a grace offence to majority of Tanzania students who are poor.2004 the High learning education loans board Act was enacted without proper research on how it can be implemented without harming the poor.
Students claim against the way the disbarments of loans are conducted.
The board has no good ways of testing economic status of students, therefore due to means testing program many students who are eligible for loans have lost that right or they get it not fully as it is provided by section 17 of the loans Act when reads mutandis mutandis with its 2005 regulations and the constitutions.
The constitutions of Tanzanian Article 11(3) provides that the government shall endeavor to ensure that there are equal and adequate opportunities to all people to enable them to acquire education and vocational training at all level of schools and learning institutions. Therefore classifying students by giving others sufficient loans and giving others inadequate loans is unconstitutional and it infringes the rights of students from poor families access to education,
Many students have been given loans inadequately and this is the basis of their claims.
This introduction describes current research on student loans by the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) and the World Bank, and draws on the conclusions of a series of Educational Forums on student loans organized by IIEP, to conclude that student loans are feasible, and can generate additional resources for higher education, but only if loan programmes are well designed and efficiently managed.
In Tanzania the repayment proportion of loans has not been very significant in most cases The element which contributes to the lack of financial viability of student loan programs is the low level of managerial efficiency, especially in public agencies, which results in high administrative costs.
According to the Act 2004 and it’s regulations of 2005 Eligible student for loans, beginning must attain the following criteria:-
Be a Tanzanian (as defined in the Act)
Have been Admitted to an accredited (recognized) Institutions as a candidate for a First Degree or Advanced Diploma.
Make a written application in the prescribed form which when approved by the Board shall form the basis of the loan contract, to be known as the Student Loan Agreement between the applicant and the Board.
Be a person who is not fully funded by other organizations or sources.
Students pursuing approved undergraduate degrees or advanced diploma courses on full time basis at recognized institutions in Tanzania.
Be a continuing student who has passed the examinations necessary to enable him to advance to the following year or stage of study.
Overseas undergraduate students under bilateral arrangements/ agreements between the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and other Governments.
The Needy students must be
v is an orphan
v is disabled or has disabled poor parents
v is from a poor single parent family
v is from marginalized and disadvantaged groups
v is from a low income threshold family earning national minimum wage or below.
The Board may before granting a loan to an applicant must seek and consider confidential appraisal report of the applicant from: sections 7 ,8, 9 and sections 10 of the 2005 high learning educations loans regulations
(a) village secretary of the village in which the applicant comes from;
(b) faith based Organization in which the applicant is a member; or
(c) a secondary school or college in which an applicant attended.
(3) Where it is proved by the Board that an applicant-
(a) is poor or disadvantaged person; and
(b) has been granted an admission letter by a higher education Institution,
.
.
Experience from other countries shows that there is good and efficiency system of granting loans to students. Student loan programs are funded from any one of the following sources:
government, the students, companies in the productive sectors, alumni and philanthropists,
and international agencies.
Venezuela, works in partnership with a commercial bank responsible for the financial evaluation of applicants, loan disbursement and collection. A similar arrangement operates in Jamaica, involving a larger number of domestic and foreign banks. In Canada and Poland, the government is only responsible for program design, interest rate subsidy, and provision of guarantees against
default. The capital used to offer loans to the students is raised by the commercial banks
themselves.
PART TWO
THE WAY FORWARD
.
v Students need to be aware of the existence and availability of the program. Second, they must understand clearly what is involved in a loan (eligibility criteria, grace period, repayment obligations, , etc) in terms of responsibilities and obligations as Article 18 (d) of constitutions.
v A good information and marketing strategy to promote the student loan program and
Ensure widespread awareness among eligible students and institutions;
v Transparent eligibility criteria to ensure that any subsidy element be targeted to the most
deserving students (academically and socially); ;
v Efficient collection mechanisms, including an appropriate legal framework, to minimize
default;
v Because the country is still poor in data collection and gathering, therefore all students in public university should be given 100%
v Means testing has proved failure ,it should therefore be stopped.
v Efficient institutional management of all key processes (evaluation and selection of
beneficiaries, academic monitoring, loan collection, financial management), based on an
adequate computerized management information system; and
v A stable management team.
v The most straightforward approach consists of requiring official income tax data to
check the family background of applicants
v of the view that, together with universities themselves, the government should play its role in finding permanent solutions aimed at pre-empting and/or preventing such crises. It should not play the role of a spectator
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