DODOMA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has asked tribal chiefs in the country to avoid acts that are likely to violate human rights as well as those which contravene the country’s laws so as to observe humanity and peoples’ dignity.
The Head of State issued an advice on Saturday at Chamwino State House in Dodoma when speaking to tribal chiefs who were drawn from across the country.
Dr Samia gave an example of a recent incident where one woman was ordered to be caned several sticks by traditional leaders after she had been found to have done mistakes in her community, something that the President said was against the country’s laws.
“We need to perform our duties by observing the constitution as we equally abide by the traditions and customs by considering unity, justice, integrity and human rights in the communities we save,’’ she said.
The President underscored the need for chiefs to provide punishment in their communities by considering human dignity and respect for all persons.
Dr Samia further asked the chiefs to embrace her 4R philosophy (Reconciliation, Reforms, Resilience, Rebuilding) in the course of discharging their duties so as to help the country to get rid of unnecessary disputes that have so far been derailing the country’s development.
There have been backlogs of cases in our courts which could be solved at the community levels, and as traditional leaders you have a role to play so that these disputes are resolved at your levels,’’ she said.
The Head of State further tasked chiefs to intervene in the conflicts pitting pastoralists and farmers which have been disrupting peace and harmony in the country, insisting that their role as top leaders in the communities they live in was paramount.
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In another development, Dr Samia has directed the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Sports to increase pace in drafting a guideline for identifying traditional chiefs in the communities.
The major objective of the guideline is to identify them officially and the kinds of works they do within their communities so that they can be accorded with all due respects within their communities, according to the President.
“I direct the minister responsible for the docket to ensure that this guideline is completed immediately so that these traditional chiefs are well identified and respected as other leaders,’’ she said.
Earlier on, the Minister for Arts, Culture and Sports, Dr Damas Ndumbaro told the President that preparations of the guidelines were at the final stages and that it would soon be presented to the Head of State.
According to him, after the release of the document traditional chiefs would start receiving the best respect they deserve in their communities.
Dr Ndumbaro thanked the Head of State for inviting traditional chiefs at the State House, saying that for the first time it was the Father of the Nation Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who had once invited them.
Therefore, Dr Ndumbaro said, Dr Samia was becoming the second Head of State to invite the chiefs at the State House.
