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Dar es Salaam. There were more questions than answers yesterday as controversy raged around Twaweza's recent opinion poll, which showed a sharp decline in President John Magufuli's popularity.
The Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology (Costech) he sought to punish Twaweza for having conducted and published the results of the opinion poll.
Costech Acting General Manager, Amos Nungu, confessed to having sent a letter to Twaweza asking the organization to explain why legal action should not be taken. against him for violating procedures guiding the conduct of research in the country.
But he said at a press conference that Costech does not have the mandate to oversee the conduct of opinion polls, and that it is not However, his position contradicts the letter sent to Twaweza, which seems to suggest that the commission found Twaweza at fault. Asked by reporters to clarify this confusion, Dr. Nungu refused
. The official rather insisted that the press briefing yesterday was intended to express the disappointment of the commission to have disseminated this letter on social networks. "We are here to say that we are saddened to find our official communication on social media even before we have responded," said Dr. Nungu without pointing fingers at anyone.
The executive director of Twaweza, Aidan Eyakuze, quickly responded organization was not behind the leak of said official letter. "All the letters that are delivered to Twaweza are stamped in the presence of the individual who delivered them, to acknowledge receipt," said Mr Eyakuze in a note posted on their website. He confirmed that Twaweza received Costech's letter whose response was being prepared
The Twaweza saga fueled confusion among the public with a section questioning the legality of Costech's intrusion. Some wondered why the commission only intervened in the last opinion poll and not the same precedents.
Dr. Nungu did not say whether Twaweza had applied for permits for opinion polls, while he was accusing the agency of the offense. in the recent poll.
However, he indicated in his letter that Twaweza had applied for a permit for four scientific research projects, three of which are ongoing and one has been completed. These projects are part of Costech's mandate to oversee studies that "contribute to the body of knowledge".
Section 5 (1) of Costech Act No. 7 of 1986 states that the Commission is the Government's main advisory body on all matters relating to scientific research and technological development in the country.
Costech's research guidelines define research as "any type of investigation, test, or systematic evaluation aimed at developing or contributing to a body of knowledge." are those that usually lead to new models, products or processes for the overall improvement of human conditions.
Twaweza's opinion polls are public perceptions about knowledge, attitude, and experience. Sources told The Citizen newspaper that because of their statistical nature, Twaweza was in contact with the National Bureau of Statistics, which, by law, is responsible for regulating and overseeing the collection and dissemination of data. statistical information. , put their action against Twaweza on a general rule giving them the power to document and record all research activities in the country and to ensure that they met and observed "national rules and regulations ".
It's unclear whether Twaweza's latest study called Speaking Truth to Power? The views of citizens on politics in Tanzania have violated any rule or norm.
The opinion poll results show that President Magufuli's popularity rating dropped by 96% the first year of his tenure in 2016 to 55% year-down by 41 percentage points.
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