TANZANIA EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE

A REPORT (1995-1999) PRESENTED AT THE AMECEA ASSEMBLY

 25th JULY TO 8th AUGUST 1999

 

 

CARITAS TANZANIA

 

 

1.0       Introduction:

 

Caritas Tanzania is one of the departments of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference. It has four sections namely the Youth, Women in Development and Children, Emergency and Refugees, and Development.

 

2.0       Management

 

            2.1.      Caritas Tanzania Evaluation and Restructuring

 

In the course of the period, Caritas Tanzania was reviewed and evaluated after its 25 years of operation. In March, 1997 Diocesan Coordinators had an Evaluation workshop on the mission, goals and objectives of Caritas Tanzania. This was followed by the Bishops’ Workshop from 3rd to 5th September, 1997 which approved proposed recommendations.  The support from the Caritas Net-work, i.e., Misereor, CAFOD and Caritas Germany facilitated both the evaluation and an ongoing restructuring of Caritas Tanzania.

 

Based on the reviewed mission, goals and objectives, Caritas Tanzania pulled efforts towards strengthening new units of the Youth, Finance, Animation and Training, and Food Security.

 

            2.2       Caritas Tanzania 25th Silver Jubilee Anniversary

 

The Silver Jubilee of Caritas Tanzania was marked on the 9th of September, 1998 Good Samaritan Sunday. Guests from within and outside Tanzania attended this celebration.

 

2.3       Meetings

 

During the period under review, Caritas Tanzania participated in various international meetings including the International Catholic Migration commission (ICMC) held in Geneva in 1995. During this meeting Caritas Tanzania was represented by the Executive Secretary who solicited funds for the Emergency and Refugee Programmes particularly the Rwandese Refugee Operation.

 

A consultation workshop was held in Malawi in September 1995 through which Caritas Tanzania shared her experiences and ideas with other

 

ESA-CDA members.

 

Caritas Tanzania joined the Great Lakes Working Team and attended a meeting in Dublin, in September, 1998.  US$ 133,916.4 were raised to support Burundian and Congolese Refugee Operation in Kigoma Diocese.

 

The Caritas Internationalis Pan Africa Meeting was held in Mauritius in September 1998 having the theme “Conflicts in Africa: Caritas as an Instrument of Reconciliation”. During this meeting a proposal for restructuring Caritas Africa was presented and adopted by the region.

 

Other meeting attended included the IV World Congress Meeting on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees held in Rome in October 1998. During this meeting Caritas Tanzania presented an enlightening country report on the refugee situation in Tanzania.

 

            2.3.1    National/Local meetings

 

Section heads attended meetings with the government, national and international organisations. Likewise Caritas organized sessions with people at both diocesan and grassroots levels

 

3.0       Section Reports

 

3.1       Development

 

The section continued with initiatives to promote community development by supporting micro-projects in the various dioceses with a maximum of Tshs.1,500,000/= per project. These projects are approved by an eligible body the Caritas National Evaluation Committee. Twenty four out of twenty nine dioceses benefited from the funds solicited from various sources. In 1995/96 for instance, a total amount of Tshs.44,989,797 were spent to support income generating projects in 17 dioceses. In 1996/97 a total amount of Tshs.38, 830,765/= was used to assist income generating groups in 14 dioceses. During the period 1997/98, Caritas Tanzania spent a total amount of Tshs.44,730,850/= for assisting social economic development  projects in 17 dioceses.

 

In addition to these three dioceses will be benefiting from the newly established unit of Food Security and Nutrition.

 

 

 

 

            3.2       Emergency and Refugees

 

Refugee, Programme

 

During the period under review Caritas Tanzania continued to assist and support refugees. For three years continuously since 1994, Caritas Tanzania assisted 100,000 Rwandese Refugees in the area of camp management, health and community services. This initiative was supported by the Caritas net-work, the Government of Tanzania, and the United Nation High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) until repatriation which commenced mid December, 1996. In 1995 for instance, a total amount of Tshs.695,832,644/= was granted to the operation from different sources out of which Tshs.662,180,909/= was from Caritas Net work. Tshs.5,697,400/= granted by UNHCR while Tshs.17,954,335/= was from other sources. In 1996, Caritas Internationalis through Caritas Neerlandica granted a total amount of Tshs.214,377,284/= while UNHCR granted Tshs.581,059,776/=. On the other hand, a total amount of Tshs.5,983,155/= were granted from other sources. Actually, Caritas Tanzania spent a total amount of Tshs.1,497,252,859/= to accomplish the Rwandese Refugee Operation.

 

Regarding the Burundian and Congolese Refugee Operation, Caritas Kigoma continues to support new arrivals. So far the Caritas net-work and UNHCR have been the major funding sources of the operation.  The total amount of Tshs.1,489,561,066.6 has been raised.  The Caritas net-work alone has contributed thus far Tshs.1,176,278,601.6 for assisting 239,465 refugees in Kigoma region. The rest are from UNHCR and other partners.

 

Services rendered by Caritas Kigoma include managing and controlling UNHCR stocks of food and non-food items such as firewood, medical care, clothing, at the Maweni general warehouse in Kigoma, and ferrying refugees by boat from the other side of Lake Tanganyika.

 

For Urban Refugees, in 1995 Caritas (T) received a total amount of US$ 10,000 from ICMC, while in 1999 Secour Catholique pledged for 100,000 FF. The funds are used for supporting individuals and groups of refugees and asylum seekers of different nationalities who floak in DSM to arrange for resettlement/or seek specialized medical services.  So far Caritas Tanzania has been providing food, medical care, accommodation and fare back to refugee designated residential areas.

 

            3.2.      Social Welfare

 

The Social Welfare Unit of Caritas Tanzania continued to render services to marginalized groups. Through the Good Samaritan Sunday collection and donations, the unit managed to support a total number of 1310 social cases from different parts of the country with food, accommodation, fare, medical care, clothing, crutches, and tricycles.

            3.3.      Famine Relief Operation

 

Caritas Tanzania continued with distribution of relief supplies to famine affected victims. This was due to drought and El-Nino rains which to a large extent affected crop production in Tanzania. The severe drought which swept across the country since the early 1990s, continued to persist throughout the year 1995/96 and 1996/97. 17 out of 29 dioceses were seriously affected. During the year 1997/98 the situation was very pathetic, this time not because of drought but due to El-Nino rains which caused havoc everywhere. Floods and landslides caused human deaths, loss of crops, food, animals, houses, and disruption of rail and road communication.

 

Caritas Tanzania in collaboration with the Tanzania Government,

International Organizations, NGOs and other agencies intervened by providing moral and material supports to the victims. Caritas net-work on the other hand supported Caritas Tanzania’s initiatives in terms of funds. Food for relief was purchased and distributed to the 23 needy dioceses. However, the operation was a bit difficult due to blockage of roads and rails. It was not easy to transport relief supplies to respective areas.

 

Besides the El-Nino effects, the year 1998/99 was affected by drought. In view of facing such situations more effectively, Caritas Tanzania organized a two weeks food seminar on needs assessment and targeting in November 1998. This seminar verified seriousness of food shortage countrywide. The survey covered a sample of twenty dioceses prone to drought. On top of that Caritas Tanzania organized “Evaluation and Training Workshop on Disaster Management in April, 1999 simply to evaluate the relief operation and equip diocesan Coordinators with modern techniques of handling emergencies. So far, already Caritas Tanzania has assisted 22 out of 29 nine dioceses with maize grains.

 

To facilitate Caritas Tanzania emergency operation, the Caritas net-work, Government of Tanzania, World Food Program, Catholic Relief Services and DFID through CAFOD granted a total amount of Tshs.1,783,116,054/= during the period under review out of which Tshs.576,380,015.9 were granted during the year 1995/96 whereas in 1996/97 a total amount of Tshs.178,531,633.2 were donated. On top of that Caritas received Tshs.571,699,541.9 during 1997/98 and Tshs.383,414,308.9 in 1998/99.

 

Conclusion:

 

Caritas Tanzania, true to its motto “Every Man My Brother” continues to aspire in promoting efforts for charitable services, welfare, assistance, relief, social justice and development. Our field of action is not only Tanzania but equally all the needy neighbours we come in touch with. All is done for the glory of God and the Salvation of humanity.