African Minds Unite in Dar es Salaam to Champion Higher Education Freedom

On April 29, 2025, Dar es Salaam hosts a significant continental gathering focused on discussing escalating threats against academic liberty and the independence of tertiary educational establishments throughout Africa. The four-day Conference on Academic Freedom in Africa commences today under the joint organization efforts of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Dar Es Salaam (UDSM) alongside CODESRIA—running until May 2, 2025. Held at UDSM, this assembly brings together prominent educators, investigators, learners, government officials, envoys, and delegates representing both local and foreign entities. This summit intends to reassess and revise the Kampala Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility established back in 1990, evaluating its present significance and determining ways to fortify it amid modern obstacles. Dr. Ng'wanza Kamata, a senior lecturer specializing in Political Science and Public Administration at UDSM, addressed media concerns on April 28 stating: “Academic freedoms are diminishing alarmingly due to mounting constraints linked to politics and economics.” He highlighted worsening scenarios since the endorsements of the Kampala Declaration and the Dar es Salaam Declaration regarding academic liberties, despite their robust protections initially outlined. According to experts, financial cutbacks post-adoption of SAPs exacerbated the decline starting from the late '80s through early '90s. These austerity measures enforced by organizations like the IMF significantly diminished resources available to colleges across the region, making them increasingly susceptible to governmental oversight. In response to evolving geopolitical dynamics and digital advancements, Dr. Kamata emphasized revitalizing pledges towards safeguarding scholarly openness: "Revisiting past commitments ensures relevancy amidst emerging hurdles." Senegal-based sociologist Dr. Fatou Sow stressed urgency behind updating previous guidelines considering recent transformations driven by technology, autocratic regimes, and competitive ranking systems impacting cognitive autonomy globally. Key aspects covered include administrative practices, fiscal difficulties faced by campuses, inclusivity debates around ethnicity/gender disparities among faculty members; advocacy roles played by college goers; ethical considerations surrounding publication ethics; psychological wellness matters concerning staff/student well-being; plus adaptations necessitated by rapid tech evolution influencing pedagogical methodologies employed nowadays. One notable feature includes releasing an anniversary edition commemorating fifty years since Professor Emeritus Issa Shivji authored his seminal study titled ‘Class Struggles In Tanzania’. Additionally, attendees aim to draft supplementary clauses enhancing original provisions laid down originally via Kampala accord aiming to encapsulate intricate nuances characterising current landscapes whilst proposing fresh perspectives dedicated purely toward ensuring unfettered access to knowledge dissemination platforms essential for societal advancement. As articulated succinctly by Dr. Kamata himself: "Securing tomorrow hinges critically upon maintaining open discourse environments conducive enough fostering collective growth benefiting broader populace". Syndigate.info ).