Africa-Press – Tanzania. HEARTFELT congratulations to Dr Mwigulu Nchemba on your well deserved appointment and endorsement as the Prime Minister for Tanzania.
The decision, supported by the confidence expressed by President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and the strong backing from Members of Parliament, clearly demonstrates the trust and belief your colleagues and the nation have in your leadership, integrity and economic insight.
In a period when Tanzania faces complex social, economic and political challenges, similar to many other nations dealing with comparable issues, your appointment and the brief acceptance speech you delivered in the house inspire renewed optimism for effective coordination, fiscal responsibility and visionary governance.
Your demonstrated background, proven record in your educational career and significant service in various key ministries, along with your discipline and dedication to national development, lay a strong foundation to steer the government towards greater efficiency, inclusivity and prosperity for all Tanzanians.
Your appointment as the new Prime Minister during this sixth phase of government and second term comes at a crucial point in Tanzania’s governance and economic transformation journey.
The success of the Sixth-Phase Government’s second term under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan will depend heavily on policy coordination, fiscal discipline and effective delivery across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Your extensive experience in economics, coupled with your role as Minister for Finance and Planning, positions you to achieve impactful results through a strategic, evidence-driven and performance-focused methodology.
As I extend my congratulations, I recognise that many may be pondering where you, as the newly appointed Prime Minister, should begin, aside from continuing the good work done by the former Kassim Majaliwa, now a retired former Prime Minister.
While there are numerous paths to explore, as a head prefect responsible for executing government affairs, my approach to entering the business is outlined as follows.
To begin with, it would be strategically attainable to focus on creating a Government Performance Coordination Framework that ensures all MDAs are aligned with the priority outcomes of FYDP IV and the developing framework of Dira 2050.
Learning from the end-of-theyear monitoring and evaluation and learning conference opened by the outgoing PM Kassim Majaliwa, held in Mwanza around September this year, it was clear that numerous administrations, the difficulty lies not in formulating policies but in their ineffective implementation.
Setting the ground for expected results, consider starting by implementing clear performance contracts for Permanent Secretaries and Agency Directors, associated with measurable targets and reviewed quarterly.
Although this approach may not be readily accepted due to the fear of trying new ways of doing things, it would strengthen accountability, reduce bureaucratic delays and ensure that government commitments result in tangible benefits for the public.
Secondly, as an ordinary citizen of this beautiful nation, I would like to see the Prime Minister enhance inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms.
Numerous strategic projects, including those related to energy, infrastructure, the blue economy, agriculture and industrialisation, as well as those that fall under potential sectors leading up to 2050 clearly lined up at the Vision 2050 span across sectors that involve multiple ministries.
Your initial leadership efforts should prioritise the establishment of cross-sectoral task forces aimed at eliminating policy overlaps, harmonising regulations and accelerating flagship projects.
As the head of government business in Parliament, you have the chance to synchronise legislative processes with executive priorities, thereby avoiding policy conflicts and delays in execution.
This is crucial for fulfilling the expectations of Tanzanians who elected the ruling party you represent, as they look for tangible results.
Thirdly, considering your financial expertise, it is essential to continue reinforcing fiscal and budgetary discipline within the executive arm.
The effective collaboration between spending ministries and the Ministry of Finance is necessary to ensure that resources are allocated to high-impact projects that yield measurable socio-economic benefits.
While I may not fully grasp your vision, as an ordinary citizen, it is essential to advocate for the adoption of programme-based budgeting and performance auditing.
This will ensure that every shilling spent, or particularly every tax paid, is linked to a clear developmental outcome, reflecting a desire shared by all Tanzanians, considering our collective history.
Fourthly, it is crucial to prioritise improving the efficiency of the public sector and enhancing the quality of service delivery.
The people of Tanzania expect tangible results: Better infrastructure, reliable utilities, increased employment opportunities and enhanced social services.
When you arrive, it is essential to implement sustainable reforms that will gradually minimise bureaucratic delays, improve the integration of digital systems in government operations and encourage meritocracy and ethical practices in public administration.
This will strengthen citizens’ trust and demonstrate responsiveness to the electorate’s expectations, especially among those in GZ who are working hard to realise their potential in contributing to the national economy.
Furthermore, as the newly appointed Prime Minister, it is vital to establish effective mechanisms for collaborating with the private sector and development partners to mobilise resources for national priorities efficiently.
With your experience in fiscal and macroeconomic management, you can promote financing options such as blended finance models and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to reduce fiscal pressure while accelerating project implementation.
This will be essential for achieving large-scale investments in energy, industrial parks and transport corridors and importantly, for widening the tax base.
Moreover, while there are numerous areas to consider, it is essential to prioritise the development of human capital and institutional capacity at all levels of government.
Successful coordination and execution rely on capable leadership in the realm of public service ethics. Implementing focused leadership development initiatives, succession planning and performance-driven rewards would maintain institutional momentum and ensure policy continuity.
Lastly, I am unsure how this could be achieved, but there is a need to design a mechanism that will promote policy communication and build trust.
The public must understand the reasoning, compromises and expected outcomes of governmental decisions.
Regular policy briefings, clear progress updates and transparent communication with citizens, Parliament and the media will foster trust and cohesion in pursuing the government’s agenda.
In conclusion, the way ahead for you as the new Prime Minister involves utilising your economic knowledge and financial management skills to create a coordinated, results-oriented and accountable government framework.
As PM, you need to embark on your new role by maintaining a keen awareness of various cautionary challenges that may impede your success.
Foremost among the obstacles in my thinking are bureaucratic inertia, which frequently hampers the execution of policies and inadequate interministerial coordination, which may undermine governmental priorities.
You must remain vigilant against political complacency, prioritising accountability and transparency as fundamental principles of governance.
Effectively navigating public expectations within the constraints of fiscal limitations necessitates a careful equilibrium between aspiration and practicality, alongside ensuring policy consistency across various ministries to fulfil the commitments of President Dr Samia’s administration.
Primarily, it is essential to fortify institutional discipline, address corruption with determination and guarantee that each reform tangibly enhances the welfare of citizens.
Nevertheless, amid numerous economic, social and political challenges facing nations worldwide, whether developing or developed, your focus and leadership on execution, efficiency and policy coherence will be vital.
During your tenure, you will have played a key role in ensuring that the Sixth-Phase Government’s second term under President Dr Samia delivers the promised tangible socio-economic transformation for the people of Tanzania.
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