Tanzania tops peace list in E.Africa amid uncertainty

 

By  Frank Kimboy 

In Summary

• There have been two incidents of bomb attacks, both in Arusha, that killed seven people in total and injured over 100 others.

Dar es Salaam. Despite the recent insecurity incidents that have hit various parts of the country, Tanzania has continued to perform relatively well in this year’s Global Peace Index (GPI).

As per the current GPI ranking, which is prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace, Tanzania is placed at number 55 out of 162 countries surveyed. This indicates that Tanzania is among the moderately peaceful countries, putting it ahead of its counterparts in East Africa. The GPI ranks Burundi at number 144, thus making it the most unsafe country in the East African economic zone. However, commentators were quick to point out the fact that the report, resulting from a survey conducted last year, could have overlooked some key factors that have caused disruption of peace.

In the last six months, since the report was launched, two Christian clerics have been murdered, Catholic Priest Evarist Mushi and Pentecostal Pastor Mathayo Kachila, while one was injured.

During the same period a Muslim cleric, Sheikh Fadhil Soraga, who is the secretary to the Zanzibar Mufti, and a local government leader in Zanzibar Muhamed Said were assaulted.

There have been two incidents of bomb attacks, both in Arusha, that killed seven people in total and injured over 100 others. Widespread riots disrupted businesses in Mtwara and Lindi regions, as residents protested the construction of the gas pipeline from Mtwara to Dar es Salaam. “If you compare our country to those languishing in civil war, we are relatively better, but in reality, assessing the situation on the ground, we need to do a lot so as to take control of our own peace. Peace in the country is deteriorating fast,” said Ms Helen Kijo-Bisimba, the executive director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre.

She urged Tanzanians, regardless of their religious or political affiliation, to assume responsibility and ensure that the country’s peace prevails.

Coalition of Human Rights Defenders coordinator Onesmo Olengurumwa urged Tanzanians to focus on the prevailing indicators in the country, as these can clearly point where the country is headed to.

“International acknowledgement will mean nothing if we won’t deal with the indicators,” he said.

The report says, however, that the inequitable distribution of resources has caused chaos in Tanzania, a clear reference to Mtwara and Lindi violence late last year and earlier this year.

According to the report, Tanzania is followed by Uganda (106), Rwanda (135) and Kenya (136). The GPI shows that Tanzania comes fifth on the list of less violent countries in Africa.

Tanzania is only beaten by Mauritius (21), Botswana (32), Namibia (46), Zambia (48) and Lesotho (49) .

Countries are given scores on 22 indicators that measure internal peace which are levels of perceived crime, number of police per 100,000 people and level of organised crime, among others. Also, the external peace indicators, which include military expenditure as per GDP and nuclear weapons, are used to assess country’s peace.