Over 450 NGOs and CSOs verified

Dar es Salaam. A total of 486 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) out of 769 that have appeared for verifications from August 21 to August 26, 2017 have successfully been verified.

A joint statement by Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) and National Council of NGOs (NaCongo) released on August 28 says verification for 283 NGOs was still going on.

“An average of 30 to 40 NGOs are verified every day in the Coastal, Central, Lake, Northern and Southern Highlands zones. If the number of NGOs appearing will remain the same, it would be difficult to review all the 8,500 NGOs in the country (under the prescribed time). Probably, time extension will be required,” reads the statement in part.

Jointly signed by THRDC national coordinator, Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa and NaCongo Secretary, Mr Ismail Suleiman, CSOs have commended the ongoing process, saying it was smoothly conducted and that collaboration between the office of registrar of NGOs and NGOs observation committee should be attributed for the realised efficiency.

“During the last six days, no NGO has been mistreated, the office of registrar of NGOs made efforts to ensure signs of mistreatment are addressed with immediate effect. However, challenges related to poor documentation and storage and unpaid fees by many NGOs should be addressed as well,” reads another part of the statement.

Earlier this month, THRDC and NaCongo voiced concern saying they suspected that the government’s exercise carried in accordance with the NGOs Act 2005 was intended to NGOs that have been criticising the government.