INTERATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY: Effective utilisation of digital spaces hyped

DAR ES SALAAM: Higher learning institutions have been urged to equip students with democracy for them to be in the position of practicing it in the available digital spaces to foster the country’s development.

Jamii Forums executive director Mexence Melo said this in Dar es Salaam yesterday when Tanzania joined other countries to mark International Day of Democracy insisting that well-informed members of the community are in the good position of making informed decisions.

Speaking at a workshop organised by JamiiForums in collaboration with Haki Mawasiliano organization, the democracy activist said varsities have the role of shaping the community by imparting them with skills that can enable them to grab various opportunities in the digital space.

“Varsities have a great role to play because graduates will become business people, journalists or politicians so citizens who get an opportunity to study at the higher learning institutions should understand their country and democracy,” he said at the event attended by varsity students and academicians.

He said the young generation should understand their role and responsibility in the country as well as ensuring democracy is well practiced.

On his part, Haki Mawasiliano executive director Mr Stephen Aloyce said his organization joined forces with JamiiForums to mark the International Day of Democracy to push for ‘democracy in the digital space’ agenda to remind citizens on how they can use available opportunities to steer egalitarianism.

This year’s International Democracy Day has been heralded by the theme: ‘Empowering the Next Generation.’
The day was officially designated in 2007 through a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The day is now celebrated in countries all over the world.

The purpose of the day is to highlight what’s good about democracies, and to encourage people to keep them alive.

The theme for 2023 is ‘Empowering the Next Generation’, which the UN says is to encourage young people to get involved in democratic processes so they can have their voices heard.

Tanzania is among countries that have made a commitment, both to its people and to the international community, to improve democratic governance.

Various organizations including USAID have come up with programmes aimed at boosting the country’s democracy, human rights and governance builds on previous work that promotes civic and political space, bolsters freedom of expression, improves the advocacy and communication capabilities of local organizations.

Also, the programmes have been designed to promote transparent and accountable systems free from corruption and strengthening human rights among vulnerable populations.