Dar es Salaam. Tanzania performance in the 2014 Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance has tumbled—with the country dropping five places—from 10th position in 2012 to 15th in the latest index—that ranked 52 countries in Africa.
But, in the East African region, Tanzania ranks second behind Rwanda, followed by Kenya, Uganda and Burundi.
The fall, according to the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) is due to poor performance in personal safety, rural sector, accountability, rights, business environment, education and rule of law.
However, its overall governance score was higher than both the African average of 51.5 and the East African average of 48.5.
According to the figures, Tanzania has failed in the three out of four categories of safety and rule of law (-4.0), participation and human rights (-2.1) and sustainable economic opportunity (-3.7). It has gained in only one category of human development in which it scored +2.8 points.
In sub-categories, the score is as follows: safety and rule of law (rule of law 54.0 down --0.6 from 2012; accountability 39.9 down -6.5; personal safety 45.9 down -9.0 and national security 90 same as 2012) . Under participation and human rights Tanzania has scored as follows: participation 65.6 up +4.3; Rights 63.2 down -5.4 and gender 67.6 down -5.2 points.
Under sustainable economic opportunity: public management 55.2 down -4.9; business environment 51.3 down -5.2; Infrastructure 32.1 up +2.7 and Rural Sector 63.3 points, down -7.3
In the only category Tanzania has performed comparatively well—human development, the score is as follows: welfare 59.9 points, up +1.9; Education 43.3 down -2.9 and health 75.6 up +9.5.
IIAG is based on more than 100 indicators from over 30 African and international sources.
Established in 2007 by Sudanese telecommunications tycoon Mo Ibrahim, the index identified Mauritius (81.7), Cape Verde (76.6), Botswana (76.2), South Africa (73.3) and Seychelles (73.2) as this year’s top five governance performers in Africa.
Somalia, with a score of 8.6, is ranked last on the Ibrahim Index. The Central African Republic, Eritrea, Chad and Guinea-Bissau are also placed near the bottom of the table.
The East African neighbor Kenya has ascended to position 17 up from position 21 in last previous rankings while Uganda is listed in position 19.
According to the statement released by Mo Ibrahim Foundation, between 2009 and 2013 overall governance improved on the African continent. However, over the past ten years, the main drivers of this overall positive trend have changed.
“The results of the 2014 IIAG challenge our perceptions about the state of African governance. Africa is progressing but the story is complex and doesn’t fit the stereotypes. Even if the overall picture looks good, we must all remain vigilant and not get complacent,” said Mo Ibrahim, Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
At the country level, the 2014 IIAG highlights the potential of governance underperformers while revealing the weaknesses of current frontrunners. Countries in the bottom half of the rankings register the largest improvements over the past five years. Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Niger and Zimbabwe have changed course since 2009 from negative trajectories to become the biggest improvers on the continent. This progress has been driven in large part by gains in Participation & Human Rights. Meanwhile, the historically strong performers, Mauritius, Cabo Verde, Botswana, South Africa and Seychelles, have shown some deterioration in at least one category over the past five years, notwithstanding that all these countries remain on overall upward trends.
“The 2014 IIAG results show that high ranking countries cannot assume that future achievements will necessarily follow previous accomplishments. More generally, let us make sure that the Africa Rising narrative, that everyone is talking about, truly benefits all African people,” said Jay Naidoo, Board Member of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
The Citizen
No comments:
Post a Comment