Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa

1. The following are the resolutions of the seminar of mayors and municipal leaders organized by the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme and United Nations Theme Group on HIV/AIDS in Dodoma, 23 –24 August 1999. The seminar was attended by mayors, the chairman of the Dar-es-Salaam City Commission, and municipal leaders from Der-es-Salaam, Dodoma, Arusha, Tanga, Mbeya, Morogoro, Iringa, Moshi, Tabora, Mwanza, and Zanzibar. The seminar was also attended by representative mayors from Uganda and Swaziland, leaders of the Alliance from Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire, and UNDP officials. The UN in Tanzania was represented by Dr. Mam Biram Joof, UNESCO representative and co-chair of the UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS.

2. The mayors, city officials, and municipal leaders reviewed the status of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country and noted its awesome impact on social and economic well-being of communities, especially in urban areas, from which the HIV infection is spreading to rural communities. The participants were deeply concerned that the epidemic is claiming lives of young and productive active people, who are the backbone of social and economic development in Tanzania and Africa in general. They took note of rapid urban population increases, increasing youth unemployment, erosion of traditional social norms by blind copying of foreign culture, and the increase in commercial sex work and other negative behaviors as factors fuelling the AIDS epidemic in this country.

3. The participants have endorsed the Abidjan Declaration of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa, which aims to intensify community action against HIV/AIDS at local level in towns, municipalities and cities. The declaration has been found to be in line with the national strategic framework under the third Medium-Term Plan (MTP III), which was launched by the Prime Minister, Hon. Frederic Sumaye, in March this year.

4. Therefore, the mayors and city and municipal leaders attending the seminar in Dodoma (capital city and center of the National Assembly) resolved to do the following:

• To intensify the campaign to prevent further infections with the HIV virus and to reduce the socio economic impact of HIV/AIDS in their communities by implementing effective measures to reduce HIV transmission.
  
• To promote and coordinate local multisectoral approaches for HIV prevention, care and support of infected and affected people in their communities.
  
• To participate in efforts to mobilize the human and financial resources necessary to implement local strategies.
  
• To ensure the active involvement of youth, women, civil society organizations, and people infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in designing and implementing local strategies
  
• To strengthen solidarity amongst cities and municipalities and to develop an effective partnership with national, international, public and private stakeholders
  
• To ensure that the search for effective solutions for HIV/AIDS epidemic is a public policy priority to be addressed by the local councils and other forums
  
• To provide the necessary institutional support of the cities and municipalities in order to strengthen the capacity of communities to intervene in the fight against AIDS
  
• To be active members of the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa and to maximize its commitment, participation, leadership, and capacity in order to respond to the challenges of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.
  
  

5. The Mayors and the city and municipal leaders called on the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government, United Nations Agencies, and local and international donors for support in order to achieve the intended goals. Also, they made a special request to the government to enable them to attend conferences of the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa when opportunities arise to do so.

These resolutions were agreed upon and endorsed by the following Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa:

1. Lord Mayor Peter A. Mavunde – Dodoma

2. Lord Mayor Salim K. Kisauji – Tanga

3. Lord Mayor S.M. Khamese – Mwanza

4. Lord Mayor Daudi J. Feruzi – Iringa

5. Lord Mayor Philip K. Kivuyo – Arusha

6. Lord Mayor Benson M. Mpesya – Mbeya

7. Lord Mayor G.F.P. Mepepo – Tabora

8. Lord Mayor Dennis N. Chuwa – Moshi

9. Lord Mayor O.T. Mloka – Morogoro

10. Lord Mayor Maulid S. Abdallah – Zanzibar

11. Hon. Charles N. Keenja – Chairman, Dar-es-Salaam City Commission

The official launching of the Tanzania Chapter of the Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa was officiated by the Hon. Kingunge Ngombale Mwiru, Member of Parliament and Minister of Regional Administration and Local Government.