Tanzania’s Anti-Terrorism Laws Meet International Standards
Dar es Salaam - Tanzania has made significant strides in strengthening its anti-terrorism laws, with a recent assessment by international experts confirming that they meet key criteria set by the global community.
Effective Prevention and Combating of Terrorism
According to the assessment, Tanzania’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and other relevant laws have been found to be effective in preventing and combating terrorism. The laws have been amended several times to reflect changing circumstances and to ensure compliance with international standards.
Key Areas of Strength
- Definition of Terrorist Financing: Tanzania’s laws define property widely enough to cover all sorts of assets, including bank accounts, which means that it can effectively prevent the misuse of funds for terrorist purposes.
- Sanctions Against Individuals and Bodies Corporate: The laws provide for both monetary penalties and imprisonment, ensuring that those found guilty are held accountable for their actions.
Effective Approach to Proving Intent and Knowledge
The assessment also commended Tanzania’s approach to proving intent and knowledge in anti-terrorism cases. While there may not be explicit provisions in the law for proving these elements, the courts have developed a concept of inference based on objective circumstances, which has been deemed effective.
Areas for Improvement
- Monetary Penalties for Individual Terrorists: The laws do not provide for monetary penalties for individual terrorists.
- Scope of the Terrorist Financing Offence: The scope of the terrorist financing offence is limited to certain types of transactions.
Conclusion
Despite these deficiencies, Tanzania’s anti-terrorism laws have been found to be generally effective in preventing and combating terrorism. The country has made significant progress in strengthening its legal framework and has demonstrated a commitment to meeting international standards.
The assessment was conducted by experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other international organizations.