CJ gives Tanzania ‘a big tick’ on Democracy

The US federal Chief Judge (District of Maine), John Woodcock says Tanzania remains at the peack as a role model of vibrant democracy in African countries that needs to be cherished.

Speaking to Tanzanian scribes who made a familiarization tour at the federal court premises this afternoon, Judge Woodcock said he believes that the respect the country now commands has root from the foundation put down by the founding father of the nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

“You as journalists you have the obligation to keep that treasure by reporting the truth” advised the judge amid applaud from the visiting journalists and their hosts.

The Chief Judge said despite the fact that he has never visited the country yet, but information he frequently receives from his colleagues who used to be in Tanzania, and several reports always give splendid picture of the country.

“I will one day go there and climb Mount Kilimanjaro,” promised the judge. The jurist once paid courtesy to Kenya which is bordered to Tanzania, is aware of how Tanzania maintained democratic values, despite of being close to countries like Burundi, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo where the political atmosphere is fragile.

Kilimanjaro with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is an inactive stratovolcano in north-eastern Tanzania rising 4,600 m (15,100 ft) from its base (and approximately 5,100 m (16,700 ft) from the plains near Moshi), and is additionally the highest peak in Africa at 5,891.8 meters (19,330 ft), providing a dramatic view of the surrounding plains.

Nyerere who is believed to be the founder and strong supporter of African socialism promoted the use of Kiswahili language whereas, during his administration Tanzania became the only country on the continent with a native African official language. He also translated the works of Shakespeare into Kiswahili.

His government emphasized ujamaa (family-hood), a unique form of indigenous socialism.

He stepped down as president in 1985, but continued as head of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) until 1990.

Tanzania has 17 registered political parties which some of them have representatives in several political, economic and social positions. 

The leeway the government grants to political parties to express their opinions freely is one of the highlights of that record. 

The Tanzania journalists' tour is within the package of the exchange program funded by USAID (United States Agency for International Development). The newspersons spend the majority of their time on the University of Maine campus, but also are visiting newsrooms around the state, and will visit Washington, D.C before returning home. Prof. Grosswiler and assistant professor Mike Socolow of the Department of Communication and Journalism are leading the group.

The program started last year under the same hosts and funders whereas, six Tanzanian journalists from different media organizations in Tanzania were stationed at University of Maine to train on American Journalism particularly on issues of Democracies and Governance.