How Politicisation of ‘Tradecraft’ — that’s the Art of Intelligence — Could Hinder Tanzania Spy Agency’s Counter-Terror Capabilities.

Analysis by Evarist Chahali, intelligence analyst.

This paper, a work in progress, examines relations between the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS), ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi(CCM), the opposition and the public, and how they impact the spy agency’s readiness of dealing with existing and future terror threats.

Press conference from the shadows

On November 5, 2010, the then Deputy Director General of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Services (TISS), Jack Zoka, held a historic press conference in which he denied accusations levied against the spy agency by main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema).

It was historic because never in the East African nation’s history had the exceedingly secretive spy agency gone public. During the press conference, Zoka refuted Chadema’s accusations made by the party’s Presidential candidate in the 2010 general election, Dr Wilbrod Slaa, that TISS was plotting to rig the election in favour of the…