Hopes, lingering questions as Tanzania's CCM proposes creation of bureau of investigation

Outlined in CCM’s 2025–2030 Election Manifesto, the proposal calls for the establishment of an independent NBI to take over criminal investigations currently handled by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) under the Tanzania Police Force.

“Establishing a new and independent investigative authority to be known as the National Bureau of Investigation, which will be responsible for investigating all criminal offences,” reads CCM’s manifesto on page 40.

At a recent Café Talk, CCM senior member, Mr Ally Hapi, explained that, at present, criminal investigations are conducted within the police, where both the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) operate under a single chain of command.

“We intend to separate these functions by creating an independent investigative agency with its own budget, capable of operating without interference—similar to how the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) functions,” said Mr Hapi.

While many view the NBI proposal as a positive step towards professionalising investigations and insulating them from political influence, legal experts argue it must form part of wider reforms to overhaul Tanzania’s criminal justice system.

Former Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) president, Mr Harold Sungusia, welcomed the idea but said it was long overdue and only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

“We have delayed in establishing the NBI. There are many other reforms needed within the criminal justice system, as recommended by the President’s Criminal Justice Commission under Judge Chande—this is just one of them. It is an initial cure, but the ailments are many,” he told The Citizen over the phone.

Mr Sungusia noted that the criminal justice system comprises 11 interconnected segments, ranging from prevention and detection to reintegration and preventing repeat offending.

“If one segment in the chain is weak, the entire system is compromised,” he said.

Among his recommendations, Mr Sungusia emphasised the need to transform the Police Force from its colonial-era structure into a community-centred service.

He advocated for decentralising the force and placing it under local government to create a “people’s police” more closely aligned with municipal planning and service delivery.

He also called for the formation of an independent police oversight body, akin to institutions in Kenya and South Africa, to provide accountability and address misconduct within the force.

Additionally, Mr Sungusia believes reforms must align with existing institutions. In his view, the NBI should have been formed alongside the National Prosecution Service (NPS), which operates under the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He said this model would resemble that of the United Kingdom, where the National Crime Agency works alongside the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure independent and effective prosecutions.

“I believe the NBI has delayed because it should have been introduced in tandem with the NPS,” he said.

Potential gains and risks

Supporters argue that an independent bureau would bring greater professionalism, impartiality, and public trust—especially in politically sensitive or high-profile corruption cases.

The proposal comes after years of complaints from civil society and opposition groups, who claim that police investigations are sometimes compromised by political interference.

However, significant questions remain about how the bureau will operate. It is unclear whether the NBI will be established through a dedicated Act of Parliament and whether its mandate will be limited to serious crimes such as corruption, terrorism, and organised crime, or if it will also cover routine criminal investigations.

Concerns also exist over whether Tanzania has the resources and expertise required to staff and run a high-calibre investigative agency.

Further uncertainty surrounds how the bureau’s responsibilities will be structured to avoid overlaps with the existing police and prosecution services.

Police officials, speaking anonymously, said they backed intended reforms in principle but cautioned that overlapping mandates could lead to confusion or institutional turf wars.

“There’s a risk of confusion unless the law clearly outlines who does what,” said one senior officer.

Countries such as Kenya, which has a Directorate of Criminal Investigations under its National Police Service, and the United States, where the FBI operates independently, offer examples that Tanzania could study. But experts caution that independence alone is not a solution.

Public expectations

On the streets of Dar es Salaam, members of the public expressed cautious optimism, with many hoping the NBI could lead to faster and more credible investigations, particularly in corruption and high-profile cases.

“We often hear that cases stall because of political interference. Maybe an independent body can work without fear,” said a businessman, Mr Rashid Juma.

Others, however, expressed concern over costs and whether the new agency might simply mirror the shortcomings of existing institutions.

For many, the key question remains: can a new bureau truly deliver the independence and integrity Tanzanians have long demanded from their criminal justice system?