Benson Bana

Senior Lecturer
University of Dar es Salaam
Focus Area(s)
Accountable Policing
Critical Tasks
Community policing
Internal accountability
Training
Interviewers
Daniel Scher
Country of Reform
Tanzania
Town/City
Dar es Salaam
Country
Tanzania, United Republic of
Date of Interview
Friday, August 14, 2009
Abstract

Benson Bana, a senior lecturer on public administration and human resource at the University of Dar es Salaam, discusses police internal management in Tanzania. He talks about the central focus areas of police reforms: community policing, professionalization and modernization. He stresses the need to define the organization’s core values so as to change people’s mindset and to attune the legal administrative framework and the Police General Orders to the set vision. Bana also notes the significance of human-resource planning. As part of the reform process, he recommends that police install human-resource management information systems to deal with such issues as staff acquisition, training and attrition. He also advocates the formation of a counseling unit to assure the police’s health and safety. In addition, Bana advises the police to set standards and to refine their performance management system so that it reflects modern methods. He highlights the significance of improved legal literacy among the public, support from political leadership, internal and external pressure and the overall demand for accountability and democracy in propelling police reforms. To promote growth and efficiency within the police force, Bana encourages public-private partnerships—provided that the assistance offered does not compromise the police’s integrity.     

Case Study:  Restoring Police Service with a Community Vision: Tanzania, 2006-2009

Full Interview

74MB
Benson Bana Interview
Profile

At the time of this interview, Benson Bana was a senior lecturer on public administration and human resource management for the Research and Education for Democracy in Tanzania program at the University of Dar es Salaam. He also consulted and conducted research in the same fields. A Tanzanian citizen, Bana earned a doctorate from the University of Manchester in the U.K. He worked in the Tanzanian public service, and as a human resource training and development manager in a multinational company. 

Keywords
community policing
internal management
external accountability
information management systems
information sources
media relations
Donor Relations
recruitment
local police training
Not specified