Advocacy

NPP hosts Tanzanian lawmakers

The International Centre for Non Profit Law's President, Steve Klingelhofer, recently approached the NPP to host a delegation of Tanzanian human rights attorneys, legislative drafters, a parliamentarian and a government official. The objective of the delegation's visit to South Africa was to familiarise themselves with the legislative environment in which Non Profit Organisations operate in South Africa, as well as to assess the processes which had to be put in place to allow NPO’s to interact with government effectively. To this end the NPP arranged meeting for the delegation with:

• Richard Rosenthal, a specialist in the NPO legislative environment
• The Legal Resources Center, whose lobbying and advocacy record speaks for Itself
• IDASA, which is a forerunner in respect of monitoring parliament and engaging government
• Black Sash, which is renowned for their advocacy and lobbying activities, as well as their community work
• Judge Dennis Davis, who headed the commission that investigated the tax framework of South Africa immediately after 1994;
• Cas Saloogee, head of the Portfolio Committee on Welfare; Barbara Hogan, Head of the Portfolio Committee on Finance.
• Mapena Bok, Deputy Director of the Non Profit Organisations Directorate.

The delegation also met with NPP staff, who explained the income tax lobbying strategy and progress to them. They were particularly interested in the process that had to be put in place so that organisations can engage government effectively.

Concerns raised include:

• Government's capacity to deliver on undertakings made.
• Legislative institutions not operating in tandem with each other.

The delegates hoped that they would address this problem at the outset of commencing their process of instituting a legislative environment in Tanzania.

Each participant expressed gratitude for the NPP's efforts to give them as wide an exposure as possible, and expressed the hope that they may rely on our support and technical assistance once their process of lobbying commences.

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*Registered Section 21:2002/024772/08