Tanzania backs intellectual freedom, pledges reforms to support scholars

She said that Tanzania's Parliament is committed to assisting the University of Dar es Salaam and other universities in the country if there are any policy changes that need to be made.

“If you need any changes to any law that is impairing your thoughts or communication of your thoughts or your research, we will be more than ready to assist,” Dr Ackson assured.

The conference, now in its third consecutive year, is organised by UDSM’s College of Social Sciences in collaboration with the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA).

It has brought together over 200 participants, including top African minds to deliberate on the issue.

Dr Ackson noted that academic freedom was enshrined in Tanzania’s laws and policies through science and education frameworks.

However, she emphasised the need to strengthen those frameworks to better protect scholars.

“This will be made possible by reviewing laws, policies and any systemic barriers that undermine the freedom of academics to share their intellectual contributions on national issues,” she said.

She described the right to academic freedom as vital for the country’s progress, saying, “Tanzania is ready to support scholars’ freedom when expressing opinions based on scientific research. That is exactly what the country needs to realise its development visions.”

"They should make us understand where they are being restricted or denied their freedom so that we are able to assist. They should not just complain because of one individual as it is the entire government," she added.

Dr Ackson also hailed the conference’s goal of revisiting the Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility, adopted in 1990, and updating it to reflect current realities.

“Without academic freedom, there can be no democratic governance, no critical citizenship, and no sustainable development,” she told the audience.

The Speaker stressed that the Kampala Declaration was never just a historical document, but a powerful call to action for African scholars.

“It was a manifesto, a bold and unapologetic assertion that African scholars must not only be free to think, question, and speak, but must do so with a profound sense of responsibility towards their societies,” she said.

Dr Ackson urged African universities to reclaim their public mission and resist the trend of becoming commercialised institutions.

“Universities must not merely serve markets. They must serve society,” she said.

“Let us move beyond seeing academic freedom only as protection from censorship or political interference. Let us embrace it as the freedom to imagine, to challenge, to dissent, and to create new paths.”

In his welcoming remarks, UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof William Anangisye acknowledged that while progress had been made since the adoption of the Kampala Declaration, challenges persist.

“We have witnessed legal reforms in several countries, stronger academic solidarity networks, and more vibrant continental dialogue on integrity and autonomy in scholarship,” he said.

“Yet, significant challenges to academic freedom remain. Censorship, political interference, funding restrictions, and internal institutional pressures are still too common,” Prof Anangisye warned.

He emphasised that the situation required a united response.

“This conference is not just a gathering. It is a vital moment to reflect on our achievements, confront enduring obstacles, and renew our commitment to the ideals of intellectual freedom,” he said.

“At UDSM, we stand firmly by these principles. Intellectuals must remain free to speak truth to power, challenge prevailing orthodoxies, and serve society with integrity.”

An education expert attending the conference, Dr Thomas Jabir, said political instability in some African countries was a threat to academic freedom.

“Limits of democracy in many African countries—occasioned by electoral violence, constitutional coups that extend executive power, and surveillance of academics—are serious setbacks,” he said.

The conference continues this week, focusing on charting a future where African universities remain spaces of critical thought, research integrity, and freedom of expression.