Words from Tanzania

There is a way in which seminars and meetings are conducted here. And since there are around 4000 non-governmental organizations operating in Tanzania, I’m guessing there’s a seminar or multi-day meeting being held every week of the year in most towns and cities.

We’ve been a part of a number of seminars where local people, workers of an organization or project partners have gathered for trainings and meetings. The format doesn’t seem to be much different where ever you go or which organization is meeting.

Here’s how they do it:

The sessions are usually opened by a leader or dignitary of the organization. In our case, the Bishop is almost always asked to open the meetings. If he is not available, a logical replacement is chosen. After the opening welcome and remarks, the leaders of the seminar look to the participants to elect meeting leaders who will hold the order, take minutes, keep the time and try to keep everyone’s needs heard. A chairperson is elected first. This person would open the succeeding days’ meetings, keep the peace, and close each day’s meeting. Then a secretary is elected who would assume responsibility for taking the minutes, passing the attendee list around etc. A timekeeper is often chosen, and that person would try to keep the agreed schedule from getting too far behind.

Sometimes at the beginning of the meetings, the chairperson asks for meeting rules to be suggested and agreed by all. They are written on a sheet of flip chart paper and taped to the wall. Some of the common behavioral rules would be to shut off the ringer or sound of all cell phones, to respect one another, and to not show up drunk (not so bad rules). Oftentimes it is agreed at what time all will go to chai (morning break), lunch and to quit for the day.

Almost all meetings are opened up with a prayer, regardless of mixed company. Sometimes the prayer said is by a Christian, and some general acknowledgments of others is mentioned.

So, to not follow this protocol would not make it a Tanzanian gathering.