The promotion and protection of human rights in Tanzania: A study on the commission for human rights and good governance

Since independence to the year 2000, Tanzania did not have a national human rights institution established solely for the promotion and protection of human rights. The PCE as an ombudsman established in 1966 concerned with abuse of power by administrators and other public officials. This is not promotion and or protection of human rights because human rights goes beyond the scope of control of abuse of power by administrators. Again, even control of abuse of power by administrators have not been made possible at the level of an ombudsman because the PCE was not independent, its investigation ended up in the office of the president who was the final authority in implementing the recommendation of the the PCE, the PCE could not inquire abuse of power committed by the president and that the president had power to stop the PCE to make certain inquiries or investigations. The led to the demise of the PCE hence the replacement by the CHRAGG. The study shall also explore this role along with the function of the PCE to see if at all a way forward has been sought in human rights promotion and protection looking at independence, accountability, limitation of commission’s powers, the decision of the commission being a recommendation in nature and powers of the president to order cessation of the works of the commission some of which were the very features have been retained in the legislations establishing the CHRAGG. This dissertation therefore examines the role and efficacy of the CHRACC in the promotion and protection of human rights in Tanzania.