MINI-SKIRTED GIRLS IN STREETS OF DAR-ES-SALAAM; POSTERS SHOWING PREFERRED MEANS OF DRESSING; "GREEN GUARDS" BEING BRIEFED ON DUTIES.




Initials DHC/VS/CR/BB



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Background: THE TANZANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS DEDICATED ITSELF TO A PROGRAMME WHICH WILL RID THE STREETS OF GIRLS WEARING MINI-SKIRTS, WIGS, OR BLEACHED HAIR, AND MEN WEARING CLOTHING WHICH HAVE BEEN DECLARED "DECADENT". FIVE HUNDRED GREEN-SHIRTED MEMBERS OF THE TANZANIAN YOUTH LEAGUE--THE "GREEN GUARDS"--HAVE BEEN DETAILED TO PATROL THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL, DAR-ES-SALAAM, AND REPORT ANY EXAMPLES OF "DEGRADING FOREIGN DRESS". THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN MOUNTED UNDER THE CODE-NAME "OPERATION VIJANA".

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE TANZANIAN YOUTH LEAGUE, MR. MOSES NNAUYE, IS ORGANISING THE WIDE-SCALE PATROLS OF "GREEN GUARDS". THE GUARDS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH WALKIE-TALKIE SETS AND CALL IN REGULARLY TO REPORT ON PROGRESS. THE GREEN GUARDS THEMSELVES ARE TRAINED BY MEMBERS OF THE TANZANIAN POLICE FORCE.

MR. NNAUYE SAID YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE IN FAVOUR OF OPERATION VIJANA AMONG THE YOUTH OF TANZANIA. HE SAID ABOUT TEN MALES HAD BEEN WARNED FROM WEARING IMPROPER DRESS, BUT SAID THE CAMPAIGN AS A WHOLE HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT PEACEFULLY, AND WITHOUT INCIDENT.

MR. NNAUYE STRESSED THAT OPERATION VIJANA WAS "A PERMANENT ENDEAVOUR BY THE YOUTHS TO STAMP OUT DECADENT FOREIGN CULTURE AND BUILD A NEW TANZANIAN CULTURE BASED ON AFRICAN MORALS."