The University of Dar es Salaam OSSREA Liaison Officer, Dr. Stephen M. Kapunda, welcomed all the participants1 to the workshop. He also explained briefly the reason for the occasion and the objectives of the workshop.2 He then thanked both the Steering Committee (Secretariat) and the Technical Advisory Committee3 for the work done. Finally he invited the chairman of the opening session, Prof. Andrew Kiondo (former Liaison Officer) to go ahead with the formality of the workshop.4
The Chairman thanked again the participants and invited Prof. Abel Ishumi (Director of Postgraduate Studies and member of OSSREA Executive Committee) to open the workshop on behalf of the Chief Academic Officer, Prof. Penina Mlama (former member of OSSREA Executive Committee).
In her opening speech the Chief Academic Officer underlined the need to come up with realistic and effective policy recommendations useful to the university, nation and possibly to Africa as a whole. She also urged the participants to make further efforts in research and publication to widen the knowledge scope not only of academicians and researchers but of the general public.
Her entire speech is hereunder reproduced.
Opening Speech by the Chief Academic Officer Prof. P. Mlama to the Second National OSSREA Workshop at the University of Dar es Salaam, 17th April 1997.
Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
1. I would like to take this opportunity to thank first the organizers of this workshop. I am particularly delighted that this workshop, which was expected to be held in August last year to mark the 10th OSSREA Anniversary at the University of Dar es Salaam is now taking place after the organizers have solved some problems especially constraint. I would therefore not hesitate to thank the main sponsor OSSREA Headquarters in Addis Ababa. Institutional and individual members who contributed to the implementation of this workshop also deserve thanks.
2. Mr. Chairman, I have been informed that the workshop will focus on the theme: Poverty Alleviation in Tanzania. This theme is crucial and should be discussed thoroughly well. I know several papers will be presented covering various topics such as development strategies for poverty alleviation; rural development and poverty alleviation; measuring poverty; and poverty alleviation and the education sector.
3. I have been further informed that the main purpose of the workshop is to mark the 10th OSSREA Anniversary despite its inevitable extension form 1996 to 1997. The objectives are:
(a) to exchange views on the theme as members look back from where they started and assess the current situation, and project on the future,
(b) to suggest areas of improvement of the papers so that some of them may be earmarked for publication to facilitate a wider audience apart from the several publications e.g. journals like UTAFITI, PED, AAMULI or the OSSREA journal - EASSR,
(c) to suggest policy implications and recommendations based on the papers and discussion.
These are sound objectives to guide your discussion and should be brought into focus during the discussion.
4. Being an old member of and former official of OSSREA, I am also aware of the visible activities of OSSREA at this University over the past ten years. They include workshops like the one I opened in June 1995 and the OSSREA literature exhibition. More of the activities will probably be amplified by the OSSREA Liaison Officer. Such activities are commendable steps towards spreading news and information about OSSREA at this University.
5. The University of Dar es Salaam recognizes the importance of this workshop. It is my hope that at the end of the workshop more light will have been shed on this theme and that you will come up with realistic and effective policy recommendations. I also hope the conclusions and recommendations will be useful to the University, the nation and possibly to Africa as a whole. I would like to assure you that the University will receive them (especially those relevant to this University) and make good use of them wherever possible. Equally important you should be making further efforts in research and publication to widen the knowledge scope not only of academicians and researchers but of the general public too.
Remember that as Higher Education and H.E institutions are expanding in Tanzania so are the pool of academic and research activities. The University's research community is central in this growth and expansion and so also in the contribution of the forums it organized, such as the June 1995 and this 1997 workshops.
6. Mr. Chairman and participants, since the workshop discussion is most crucial and we are all eagerly waiting for the start of deliberations I should not spend more time on my speech. Therefore, while thanking you for your attention and wishing you fruitful deliberations, I have the honour now to declare this workshop officially open.
After briefing the participants the historical aspects of OSSREA at the University of Dar es Salaam the Liaison Officer Dr. Stephen M. Kapunda outlined the OSSREA activities done over the past ten years. They include
(a) Organizing workshop.
(b) Participating in other OSSREA workshops and congress.
(c) Participating in the OSSREA Executive Committee.
(d) Participating in OSSREA Research Report Series and other publications.
(e) Participating in OSSREA competitions.
(f) Holding various meetings including general annual meetings.
(g) Holding OSSREA Day Exhibitions.
He then concluded by stressing that despite the problems OSSREA is facing at the University of Dar es Salaam the organization is making more effort to promote OSSREA activities and Tanzania expects to be a host to the sixth OSSREA Congress to be held in 1999.
The full report is reproduced below:
REPORT BY THE LIAISON OFFICER, DR. STEPHEN M. KAPUNDA, TO THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY WORKSHOP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM
1. Introduction
The Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) at the University of Dar es Salaam was officially established on 21 August 1986 - almost six years after OSSREA was launched at Nazareth, Ethiopia. Dr. Jeanette Hartmann (Department of Sociology) was the first to be appointed OSSREA's Country Representative (Liaison Officer).
On 15th July, 1990 Dr. Andrew S. Kiondo (Department of Political Science and Public Administration) was appointed second OSSREA Liaison Officer.
On 5th August, 1994 Dr. Stephen. M. Kapunda (Department of Economics) was elected third OSSREA Liaison Officer to be elected democratically in line with the recommendation made at the OSSREA Executive Committee meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 15th -16th November, 1993.
OSSREA at the University of Dar es Salaam has about 30 individual members and 8 institutional members i.e. Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences, Commerce, Education and Law; Institutes of Development Studies (IDS), Kiswahili and Resources Assessment (IRA); and the Main Library.
1.2 Objectives of OSSREA at the University of Dar es Salaam
The objectives of OSSREA at the University of Dar Salaam are in line with OSSREA Headquarters (Addis Ababa) functional mode and the OSSREA constitution, i.e.
(a) Encourage and promote interest in Social Science.
(b) Mobilize and persuade individuals and institutions to join OSSREA.
(c) Encourage members and those interested in OSSREA and other Social Science research competitions to participate fully.
(d) Encourage members to publish in OSSREA and other research organizations journals and books.
(e) Work in close co-operation with other individuals and institutions in Tanzania and elsewhere where the study of social science is promoted.
Activities Done
During the past 10 years OSSREA at the University of Dar es Salaam has managed to do the following activities:
1. Organizing Workshops
The first national OSSREA workshop organized purely by University of Dar es Salaam members took place on 29 June 1995.
The main theme was "Improving the Standard of Social Science Research During Structural Adjustment Perio The Case of Tanzania."
Papers presented were:
1. Improving the Standard of Social Research in Tanzania. Research Outputs and Publications; by Dr. Stephen M. Kapunda.
2. Research Methodology Economics Research and Adjustment Process: Is Economics Research Adjusting Too? by Dr. Fidelis Mtatifikolo.
3. The Role of Research Policy Formulation: Lessons From East Asian Countries; by Dr. Humphrey Moshi.
4. Researching in Education Policies in Developing Countries: Problems and Prospects; by Dr. S. F. Kiwia and Mr. J. L. Mpuya.
5. Enquiry into Legal Dimensions of the Genocide Problem: Experience of Research; by Dr. K. C. Kamanga.
The second workshop organization by members of OSSREA at the University of Dar es Salaam is the current one focusing on poverty alleviation in Tanzania. In this workshop five papers will be presented.
2. Participating in Other OSSREA Workshop and Congress
Individual OSSREA members at the University of Dar es Salaam have participated in various workshops. In October 1986, for instance, Dr. J. Hartmann, the then Liaison Officer participated in a workshop on Research Methods, Problems and Priorities and Support Needs on Women in Eastern Africa. Others who participated were Mrs. B. Koda, Ms. M. Ngaiza, L. Besha and Mr. S. Mashalla.
OSSREA members have also been participating in various OSSREA Congresses. In August 1993, for instance, four members from the University of Dar es Salaam participated in the Fourth Annual Congress at Debre - Zeit, Ethiopia i.e. Dr. Andrew S. Kiondo, the Liaison Officer presented the University of Dar Es Salaam OSSREA Report, Drs. W. Rugumamu, S. Rugumamu and Dr. Stephen M. Kapunda (presented papers).
In the recent fifth OSSREA congress held in Capetown (November 1996) Prof. P. Mlama, Prof. A, Ishumi, Dr. S. Rugumamu, Ms. Makule and Dr. Stephen M. Kapunda participated.
3. Participating in the OSSREA Executive Committee
Some members form the University of Dar es Salaam have also participated actively in the Executive Committee, notably:
Prof. W. Mlay - OSSREA President (1986 - 1993)
Prof. P. Mlama - OSSREA Executive Committee member (1996 - 1996)
Prof. A Ishumi - OSSREA Executive Committee member (1996 to todate)
Prof. A Ishumi - has been also member of the Editorial Board.
4. Participating in OSSREA Research Report Series and other
Publications
Examples of members who have participated in OSSREA publications are:
1. E. Chole, W. Oyugi and W. Mlay (Eds.) The Crisis of Development Strategies In Eastern Africa: UBS Publishers, India, 1989.
2. Z. Bakri and P. M. Besha (Eds.) Women and Development in Eastern Africa: An Gender for Research, UBS Publishers, India, 1989.
3. T.S. Nyoni (1996) Income Distributional Effects of Economics Adjustment in Tanzania, Research Report Series No. 7.
4. S. M. Rugumamu (1996) Technology Transfer through Technical Co-operation; The Case of Tanzania. Research Report Series No. 7.
5. Participating in OSSREA Competitions
OSSREA members from Tanzania have extensively been involved in OSSREA competitions. A good number have come out as winners. Example of such winners are:
1. S. B. Misana Deforestation in Tanzania, A Development Crisis? The Experience of Kahama District Project (started in 1995).
2. A. L. K. Mhina Peasants' Women's Organizations and Liberating Rural Technology: The Case of Tanga Region Tanzania (started 1994)
3. T. M. P. Duma Place of Women in the Informal Sector Economy: Case study of Dar es Salaam and Morogoro Urban (started 1994).
4. R. M. Wambura An Assessment of the Impact of Villagers' Participation in Development Activities of Village Level in Tanzania (Started 1994).
5. S. Rugumamu The Effectiveness of Technical Co-operation in Enhancing Farmers' Technological Competence in Tanzania (submitted 1994).
6. M. Ndanshau Informal Borrowing, Savings and Institutions in Tanzania (submitted 1994).
7. T. Y. Sengo and M. Mulokozi The History of Kiswahili Poverty AD1000 - 2000 (1993).
8. K. Kulindwa Industrial Energy Consumption: The Case of Tanzanian Manufacturing (1993).
9. I. M. Swilla Gender Inequalities in the Teaching Staff of Boys, and Girls` Secondary Schools in Tanzania: A Comparative Study (submitted 1992.
10. M.G. Kente Women Participation in the Political Process in Tanzania (submitted 1992).
6. Holding Various Meeting Including General Annual Meetings
In the meeting OSSREA activities and issues are reviewed, discussed and deliberated and future direction is determined.
Furthermore, during some of the meetings the OSSREA Liaison Officer and members of various committees (Steering and Technical Committees) are elected.
7. Holding OSSREA Day Exhibitions
This was done, for instance, during the years 1991 - 1992. OSSREA carried out Library Exhibitions (OSSREA Awareness Weeks) to advertise various OSSREA publications and attract new membership.
On June 29th 1995 simultaneously with the June workshop another exhibition was made. OSSREA Literature brochure and T-shirts were displayed. This applies to today's workshop.
Prospects and Opportunities
Despite the problems OSSREA is facing at this University, the organization is making more effort to promote OSSREA activities. The University of Dar es Salaam is also expected to be a host to the sixth OSSREA Congress to be held in 1999.
