Lucas Kusima

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police
Tanzania
Focus Area(s): 
Accountable Policing
Critical Tasks: 
Community policing
Recruitment
Interviewers: 
Daniel Scher
Country of Reform: 
Tanzania
Town/City: 
Dar es Salaam
Country: 
Tanzania, United Republic of
Date of Interview: 
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Abstract 

Lucas Kusima talks about reforms in policing prompted by the change in Tanzania's government leadership in 2005. He describes the shortfalls in recruitment of local police and the need to change training methods to improve professionalism and a greater understanding of human rights. He talks about the difficulties of modernizing equipment and information technologies when funding must come from the communities the police serve. Kusima discusses the medium-term strategic plan for reform that is part of the national vision for development by 2025 and the methods used to compile a reform document that is inclusive and builds citizen confidence. He describes the unexpected obstacles of trying to bring about reform such as the need to amend laws and the resistance to change by the police force. Financing remains the biggest challenge, he says. The foremost achievement was building the confidence of the public, and he talks about ways public confidence in community policing is measured.  

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

Full Interview: 
79MB
Lucas Kusima Interview
Profile: 

At the time of this interview, Lucas Kusima was assistant commissioner of police in Tanzania. He previously served as senior superintendent of police.

Language: 
English
Nationality of Interviewee: 
Tanzanian
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Lucas Kusima
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Keywords 
vetting
training curriculum
promotion system
public confidence
oversight agency
media relations
local police training
internal management
information sources
information management
external accountability
complaint collection
community policing