TOKA MAKTABA
AFRICA CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
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Alumnus Profile: Professor Eginald Pius A.N. Mihanjo, Tanzania
Professor Eginald Pius A.N. Mihanjo, director of studies at the National Defence College in Tanzania, did not originally find a practical application for his Ph.D. in history and strategic studies outside of teaching university courses. However, at the Africa Center’s 2006 Senior Leaders Seminar, where he “trained and [was] exposed intensively on security issues and national security strategy,” he began to be “able to see the links and synergies that finally drew my interest and shaped me,” he says. “The Africa Center has made me who I am today both in the national security strategy training and also at National leadership and higher learning training.” Professor Mihanjo has often credited the knowledge gained at the Senior Leaders Seminar and other Africa Center workshops as providing him with “the foundation for strengthening curriculum development in national security strategy” in his country.
Today Professor Mihanjo focuses on the issue of natural resource management as a potential source of conflict, and his unique blend of both government and academic service affords him a unique perspective on issues of good governance, strategic planning, and defense training. He cautions the next generation of leaders that “African security professionals detach themselves from people as they become leaders in the security sector.” This may lead to leaders not being “clear on security challenges [at local and district levels], especially in regards to irregular and asymmetric threats, and on the strategies to mitigate them.” In addition, “this big gap constrains the decisionmaking and informed opinion” needed to advise heads of state and government. One method of addressing it is to develop ways to sensitize the leaders to what happens on the ground at the operational and tactical levels before they are promoted to top leadership positions.
Professor Mihanjo continues to serve as a critical resource in ensuring continued engagement with the Africa Center alumni community in Tanzania and within the East Africa Community. He assists in the planning of outreach events and the participant nomination process for Africa Center programs and other U.S. Government senior-level dialogues. He currently serves as the president of the Africa Center’s Tanzania Alumni Chapter, which was founded on April 24, 2010, and boasts 109 members. Since the Senior Leaders Seminar in 2006, Professor Mihanjo has attended several more Africa Center workshops, trainings, and symposia. He has also taken part in many other programs hosted by the U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Embassy, and other institutions
Wasifu wa Mhitimu wa(AFRICA CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES) : Profesa Eginald Pius AN Mihanjo, Tanzania
Profesa Eginald Pius AN Mihanjo, mkurugenzi wa masomo katika Chuo cha Ulinzi cha Taifa nchini Tanzania, hapo awali hakupata matumizi ya vitendo ya Shahada yake ya Uzamivu katika historia na masomo ya kimkakati nje ya kufundisha kozi za chuo kikuu.
Hata hivyo, katika Semina ya taasisi ya Africa Center for Strategic Studies ya Viongozi Wakuu ya Kituo cha Afrika ya 2006, ambapo "alipata mafunzo na [aliwekwa] wazi kwa kina kuhusu masuala ya usalama na mkakati wa usalama wa taifa," alianza "kuweza kuona viungo na ushirikiano ambao hatimaye ulinivutia na kuniumba," anasema.
"Kituo cha Afrika kimenifanya niwe nilivyo leo katika mafunzo ya mkakati wa usalama wa taifa na pia katika mafunzo ya uongozi wa Taifa na elimu ya juu."
Profesa Mihanjo mara nyingi amesifu maarifa aliyopata katika Semina ya Viongozi Wakuu na warsha zingine za Kituo cha Afrika kama yanampa "msingi wa kuimarisha ukuzaji wa mtaala katika mkakati wa usalama wa taifa" nchini mwake.
Leo Profesa Mihanjo anaangazia suala la usimamizi wa maliasili kama chanzo kinachoweza kusababisha migogoro, na mchanganyiko wake wa kipekee wa huduma za serikali na kitaaluma unampa mtazamo wa kipekee kuhusu masuala ya utawala bora, mipango ya kimkakati, na mafunzo ya ulinzi.
Anaonya kizazi kijacho cha viongozi kwamba "wataalamu wa usalama wa Kiafrika hujitenga na watu wanapokuwa viongozi katika sekta ya usalama."
Hii inaweza kusababisha viongozi kutokuwa "wazi kuhusu changamoto za usalama [katika ngazi za mitaa na wilaya], hasa kuhusu vitisho visivyo vya kawaida na visivyo na ulinganifu, na mikakati ya kuvipunguza."
Kwa kuongezea, "pengo hili kubwa linazuia kufanya maamuzi na maoni yenye ufahamu" yanayohitajika ili kuwashauri wakuu wa nchi na serikali.
Njia moja ya kushughulikia hilo ni kubuni njia za kuwahamasisha viongozi kuhusu kinachotokea ardhini katika ngazi za uendeshaji na mbinu kabla ya kupandishwa cheo hadi nafasi za juu za uongozi.
Profesa Mihanjo anaendelea kutumika kama rasilimali muhimu katika kuhakikisha ushirikiano unaoendelea na jumuiya ya wahitimu wa Kituo cha Afrika nchini Tanzania na ndani ya Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki.
Anasaidia katika kupanga matukio ya uhamasishaji na mchakato wa uteuzi wa washiriki kwa programu za Kituo cha Afrika na mijadala mingine ya ngazi ya juu ya Serikali ya Marekani.
Kwa sasa anahudumu kama rais wa Tawi la Wahitimu wa Tanzania la Kituo cha Afrika, ambalo lilianzishwa Aprili 24, 2010, na lina wanachama 109. Tangu Semina ya Viongozi Wakuu mwaka 2006, Profesa Mihanjo amehudhuria warsha, mafunzo, na makongamano kadhaa zaidi ya Kituo cha Afrika.
Pia ameshiriki katika programu zingine nyingi zinazoandaliwa na Amri ya Marekani ya Afrika, Ubalozi wa Marekani, na taasisi zingine