Professor Ngugi wa Thio’ngo to attend the sixth annual reading conference

A well known African novelist, a Kenyan born Professor Ngugi wa Thion’go is expected to be among the key speakers at the sixth annual Pan-African Reading for All Conference scheduled to take place later in Dar es Salaam. According to the Chairman of the conference preparatory committee, Professor Mugyabuso Mulokozi, Professor Ngugi would also be accompanied by Kenyan popular scholar in the USA Professor Ally Mazrui, President of the Pearson Foundation Nieker Mark and Patricia Edward, President of International Reading Association. Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete would be the Chief guest of the conference that is expected to attract more than 200 local and International participants. The event has been championed by Children’s book project for Tanzania Develop Literature Society, Reading for All Pan-African voice of literacy and other stakeholders.


Chairperson of the preparatory committee for Pan-African Reading Conference for All Professor Mugyabuso Mulokozi talking to journalists partly hidden during a press conference at Children Book project offices at Kijitonyama in Dar es Salaam. On his left is the Executive Secretary of Children Book project Ms. Pili Dumea.
This will be the first time for Tanzania to have hosted such a big event scheduled to take place next month from August 10 – 14, 2009 at the University of Dar es Salaam. The forum whose theme would be “Literacy for Community Based Social-Economic transformation and Development”, would involve different scholars, teachers, students, publishers, book-sellers, policy makers and other close stakeholders in book industry. About 204 topics had been submitted to the organizing committee of people who want to present their views at the conference, and among the key participants would come from the hosts Tanzania, Nigeria, Botswana, Morocco, South Africa, USA and Canada.

Professor Ngugi wa Thion'go, a Kenyan national living in USA would grace the occassion and also he is expected to launch his new book entitled remembering Africa.

Others would come from Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Rwanda, Malawi, Denmark, Australia, Norway, Swaziland, Australia, New-Zealand, Cameroon and United Kingdom. This is a historic meeting to take place for the first time in Tanzanian soil. According to Professor Mulokozi, Information, Culture and Sports Ministry has extended its hands in support of the event and institutions such as Barrick Gold Tanzania International Reading Association Pearson Foundation for Development through Education and Mirad foundation. The Pan-African Reading for All (RFA) Conference is one of the most exciting and most memorable literacy events on the African continent. It is organized bi-annually by the International Reading Association’s International Development Committee in Africa (IRA/IDAC) and the National Reading Association in the host country. The first edition was held in 1999 in the glamorous South African City of Pretoria. The second edition was held in Abuja in Nigeria in 2001. In 2003, the third edition was held in Kampala, the city of seven hills in Uganda. In 2005, the 4th edition of the Pan-African Reading for All conference was taken down south to Swaziland, commonly known as the Switzerland of Africa because of its scenic beauty and climate. The most recent edition of the conference held in August 2007 took place in the West African country of Ghana, known for its gold wealth.

Africa’s Public service day celebrated in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

ON 16th June 2009, Tanzania hosted the Continental African Public Service Day in a colourful celebrations that took place in the city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This is an occasion that is celebrated by all African countries every after two years and is hosted in one of the African countries. In 2007 such celebrations were held in Johannesburg in South Africa. Apart from the continental African Public Service day, each country also celebrates this day in a way it deems fit for recognizing the role of the public service and ways of improving service delivery. At the national level in Tanzania the week long celebrations took place at Mnazi Mmoja grounds in Dar es Salaam, where a number of local and international participants took part in the historic event.


The entrance to Mnazi mmoja ground was opened to the general public, and a security guard of a private company was stationed at the gate by the side of a large advertisement conveying the message of the event. They were working by rotating on shifting basis to control the movement of the people.








Banana Zolo, a famous vocalist and an artist based in Dar es SAlaam on the stage entertaining the audiences who turned up at Mnazi Mmoja ground.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

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This is Mnazi Mmoja ground where the celebrations were held, the entire ground had been decorated with national flags of the various countries which participated in the celebrations. The invited guests were at the high table which was properly arranged in order.
The celebrations were preceded by the procession organized by public servants from various government Ministries and their institutions which ended at Mnazi Mmoja grounds whereby they were received by Deputy Zanzibar Chief Minister of the Zanzibar’s Revolutionary government Mr. Ali Shamuhuna. Mr. Shamuhuna represented Zanzibar’s President Dr. Aman Abeid Karume who was supposed to be a guest of honour in these celebrations. The theme for the 2009 Africa Public Service day was “Fostering Partnership and Collaboration for Sustainable Development and Improved Service Delivery in Africa. The ultimate aim of the above event is to improve service delivery to the people.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

Tanzanian Police Brass-Band led the procession of government workers who trailed behind them slowly matching in groups formed in single file as they entered the Mnazi Mmoja grounds to start the celebrations.



Workers of Kenya government who adorned themselves in special red clothes also joined the procession in a similar walking style.




The guest of honour, the deputy Zanzibar Chief Minister Mr. Ali Shamuhuna walked down the VIP table to visit various pavilions to see what the exhibitors had displayed, he started to visit Kenya pavilion. On his right he is flanked by the Minister of State, Public Service Management Ms Hawa Ghasia. As he moved from one pavilion to another, there was a mass movement of the people who trailed behind him.
Africa believe that through the exchange of ideas and feedback from stakeholders, the occasion has contributed to a greater extent in the improvement of service delivery in African countries. Among the Tanzanian dignitaries who attended the celebrations were the Minister of State responsible for Public Service Management M/s Hawa Ghasia, and the Minister of State responsible for good governance, M/s Sophia Simba, and also from Pan-African level was a Kenyan Minister of State for Public Service who is also the Chairperson of the 6th African Ministers for Public/Civil service Hon. Dalmas Otieno Anyango who was accompanied by some officials and some Kenyan civil service servants also graced the occasion, apart from them were also Public Service ministers and representatives from other African countries.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

Shamuhuna was kindly received by a charming lady at the reception desk which was decorated by a photograph of the currently Kenyan President, Hon. Mwai Kibaki and later after having been briefed, he signed a visitor’s book, standing on his back is the Kenyan High Commissioner to Tanzania Hon Mutinda Motiso.






It was a good day indeed as Kenya’s pavilion shined with a red carpet along the corridor formed to separate both sides as though it was prepared for the President. It was also a good day indeed as most visitors including myself got the first glimpse of a famous and a popular Kenyan radio broadcaster, Mr. Leonard Mambo Mbotela as a master of ceremony kept inviting guests by sending messages through in a wireless microphone he held in his hand to the audiences at the pavilion. Mr. Mbotela became famous in his Swahili program known as “Je Huu ni Ungwana?” which literally means, “Is this action fairly treated”? The program used to target people who had bad character towards their colleagues. It was an interesting program which was used to be aired by the general service of the Voice of Kenya (Now known as KBC) in Swahili language. His presence had a gloomy aspect in it as most visitors could not expect him among Kenyan delegations in these celebrations.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

Visitors who had thronged at Kenya tourism pavilion getting information from exhibitors

An exhibitor from the Republic of Kenya distributing brochures to whoever enters through a temporary gate to the compartment where Kenyan delegation and their pavilions were located.

The event which was celebrated alongside Children’s day in Africa is said to be the most successful, because of the involvement of over 12 countries whose ministers for public service management participated in a two-day meeting. The countries are Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Burundi, Rwanda, Algeria, Namibia, Egypt, South Africa and the host Tanzania. Among other two countries Ministers were Hon. Prof E.G.Mukonoweshuru, Minister of Public Service, Republic of Zimbabwe, and Hon. Richard Baloyi, Minister of Public Service and Administration, Republic of South Africa and Aman Essawi Assistant Minister for International Relations, Ministry of State for Administrative Development. Apart from that, countries like Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe joined with the organizing country Tanzania in Public Service Management week long exhibition of their most governments’ activities at Mnazi Mmoja grounds where Tanzania was represented by 200 institutions including ministries and government agencies.

PUBLIC SERVIUCE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

The guest of honour visited other foreign pavilions such as that one of the Republic of Zimbabwe and South Africa respectively, and other local ones. The two countries also participated in this exhibition as part of Pan-African Public Service celebrations.





The national institutions responded well in the exhibition in which they showed different products and their activities to the visitors. The aim of the show of this kind was to provide opportunities for the participants to expose their experiences to let their visitors know of the basic activities they offer to their citizens and probably learn other things. Members of the public who responded to the show had time to walk around various stands to see for themselves various different items and the most crucial information about their firms as well as services their government offers to the general public. Quite a good number of them asked questions in a most quire way and enlightened on the possible ways on how to solve problems surrounding them.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

The guest of honour and other dignitaries from the high table who accompanied him stood for a while watching the traditional dance which was entertaining the audience at the ground. Standing extreme right is the Kenyan Minister for State for Public service and Administration, who was also the 6th Chairperson of the African Ministers for Public/Civil service, Hon. Dalmas Otieno Anyango, and Tanzania’s Minister of State in President Office, Public Service management, Hon Hawa Ghasia






Photo-journalists and camera crews from various media organizations dominated the scene as they seemed busy almost everywhere to ensure that their targeted readers and viewers are contented enough with the information they carried with them. In the photo above a senior photo journalist Mr. Richard Mwaikenda is seen as if helping his colleague to adjust something on his camera.

As concerns with the history of Tanzania’s Public Management Service, the President appointed new Chairperson and Commissioners of the commission in July 2007 at the State House in Dar es Salaam. The commission’s vision, for instance is to be the role model across the world on good governance and provision of good service in the Public Service Management in the country. The commission’s purpose is to oversee and ensure that employers, employment and disciplinary authorities abide by the laws, regulations and principles in overseeing the issues concerning human resources and working on appeals and complaints presented to the commission. According to section 9(1) of the Civil Servants laws No: 8 of 2002, being read together with section No: 14 (1) on administering the 2003 procedures of the Public Service Commission, the formation of the Commission is as follows:- The Public Service Commission is made up by Chairman and members not exceeding six who are appointed by the President. The appointed secretary becomes the Chief Executive and accounting officer.

JOURNALISTS AT WORK DURING PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

Tanzanian Minister of State in President’s Office responsible for Public Service Management, Hon. Ms Hawa Ghasia delivering her speech to the audience. Seated on her left side is the Minister of State responsible for good governance, Hon. Mrs Sophia Simba.

Passing a greeting to the audience from the African Union Commissioner for political affairs, is a representative Mrs Julia Dolly Joiner from the high table.

Addressing the audience is Hon. Dalmas Otieno Anyango, the Minister of State for Public service of the Republic of Kenya.

The guest of honour, the deputy Chief Minister of the Zanzibar revolutionary government Mr. Ali Shamuhuna was the last speaker in the series of top most officials who gave their key note address to the audience.




Photo-journalists as well as camera crews showed their skilful work and experience, and funny enough the occasion was aired live by TBC.

This is an Outside Broadcasting Vehicle popularly known in short as OB Van belonging to Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), a sole National Television station in the country was at the seen covering the occasion live. A satellite dish was closely connected to the main broadcasting accessories normally used by broadcasters in a live show.

WHAT IS AFRICA SERVICE DAY?

The history of the African Public Service day can be traced back in the year 2001 when Ministers responsible for the public service met in Windhoek-Namibia for the 3rd Biennial Pan-African Conference to discuss various issues related on public service activities. The Ministers noted in their meeting that economic growth cannot take place in a country where the public service is not strong and functioning well. Among other things, the ministers’ meeting decided that the functions and responsibilities of the public service should be recognized and celebrated by governments in all African countries. To that effect, they also resolved that every year African countries should mark the day on 23rd of June as the “African Public Service day”.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

Tanzania’s National Service Cultural Troupe (Known as JKT cultural troupe) entertained the audience in the ground

Another local dancing group was also there entertaining the audience.

Mr. George Ambeshi delivering his speech as a Vote of Thanks on behalf of the Chief Secretary and Head of Public service of the host Tanzania government.




The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism pavilion of the wildlife division was among the most attractive pavilions. Here an exhibitor is showing to a visitor how staffed heads of wild animals are made. This is a staffed head of a buffalo.


Together with these resolutions, they adopted an Africa Public Service Charter, whose aim was to set standards that would restore prestige and dignity to the public service, and raise performance levels and competence in governments. The principles embodied in the Charter are compatible with the Batho Pele approach as well as other key Government transformation objectives and priorities. Other previous conferences were held as follows:- The first conference was held in Tangiers, Algeria in 1994, The second was held in Rabat, Morocco in 1996, whereas the third in Namibia. The fourth conference was held in Stellenbosch in South Africa in 2003, the fifth conference was held in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia in 2005 and the sixth conference was held in Johannesburg in 2007. Africa Public Service Day is the day on which Africa as a whole honours all the many women and men whose responsibility it is to serve the people of Africa. It is an important day on the calendar and one people observes.
THE PURPOSE OF AFRICA PUBLIC SERVICE DAY:
This is to bring public servants together to commemorate the value and virtue of service delivery improvement to the communities they serve. To consider the working conditions of men and women who devote most of their lives to serve the public in order to encourage positive interests by citizens in the work of public administration. This is in a bid to create good initiatives, and promote professionalism.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

A man passes close to the pavilion of the Vice-President’s office that is responsible for the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the pavilion was decorated with portraits of former Presidents of the two countries, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Sheik Abeid Aman Karume who took to architect the union articles in 1964.

A series of the Ministers of Home Affairs in array since independence. There have had been 20 Ministers of Home Affairs in Tanzania since independence including the current Dr. Laurence Marsha.







WHAT IS THE AFRICA PUBLIC SERVICE CHARTER?
The Charter defines a framework to guide the public services in Africa in taking such legislative, regulatory, technical and practical measures as may be required to create favourable conditions for the proper functioning of the public service and improve the quality of its services. It states and defines the principles and rules of conduct for public service employees, who shall foster a neutral and stable conducive environment to the strengthening of ethical values and the image of the public service, as well as the professionalism of its employees.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

An exhibitor giving explanation to the visitor at the National Housing Building Research Agency’s pavilion (NHBRA)




Students from Agape Mbagala secondary school in Temeke district, Dar es Salaam region contributed a total of Tshs. 330,000 to an organization dealing with the helping of the disabled children in the country. At the organization’s pavilion, I managed to capture the Chairman of the organization Mr. Charles Mapima when receiving the money. According to him, his organization targets to collect a total of Tshs. 800 million (About US$ 650,000).



A woman with visionary disability using a typewriter machine, she is a teacher at Uhuru mixed primary school in Dar es Salaam, this is government school for disabled children. She was brought at the exhibition by the ministry of education at their pavilion to demonstrate how she undergoes her typing skills while her both eyes cannot see totally. It was a wonderful experience to visitors most of whom were perplexed to see her performing her typing skills without missing a word.
These principles and rules of conduct are Equality of Treatment of citizens, Neutrality in service delivery along the objectives of the government of the day, Legality in terms of administrative decisions conforming to laws and regulations, Continuity in terms of ongoing service delivery to customers, Proximity and Accessibility of services, Participation, Consultation and mediation, Quality, effectiveness and efficiency, Evaluation of services, Transparency and Information speed and responsiveness, and Reliability and confidentiality of information concerning citizens . The relations between the public service administration and its employees shall be based on professional merit and respect for human rights. Each public service must also see to the career development prospects of public service employees while ensuring the development of human resources and their self-fulfillments.

PUBLIC SERVICE MANAGEMENT CELEBRATIONS IN TANZANIA

Visitors at the pavilion of the department of the Information Services, a division of the Ministry of Information looking at the old photographs of the national events that took place way back in late sixties and early seventies.

Among the photos that impressed the onlookers was that one of the former Ugandan military President, General Iddi Amin Dadaa who was met by President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania at the airport in one of the East African Community meetings in Arusha. (I presume we could never meet, probably one of the leaders told the other. The two Presidents had a long standing grudge that led to the collapse of the community in 1977 with President Nyerere who declared he could not tolerate to share the same table with Amin). Amin was deposed by Tanzanian forces in a war after he had annexed part of her territorial integrity and claimed to be part of Uganda in 1979 an aspect that forced him to seek for a refuge in Saudi Arabia where he died in 2003. President Nyerere died in 1999 at Saint Thomas Hospital in London due to an illness.

This is when the third Tanzanian Prime Minister, the late Edward Moringe Sokoine (aged 39) was taking an oath of the office on 8th February 1977. He is being sworn in by President Nyerere as the third Prime Minister of the country.





These must be reflected in Recruitment and promotion, Mobility and redeployment, Staff training and development , Motivation of staff, Remuneration and Physical safety, working conditions and security of tenure. The fundamental values of a public service employee shall also be based on a public service rooted in professionalism and ethics. The rules of conduct for public service employees shall be part of an integrated anti-corruption system. The Charter also expresses the will of African States and underscores their political and moral commitment to improve the services provided to citizens and ensure the efficient use of the resources allocated for such services.