The Ministry of Finance has urged citizens to use official control numbers when making payments for government services, saying the move is critical for ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficient delivery of public services.
Speaking at the Ministry’s pavilion during the ongoing 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), a senior official from the ministry, Mr Charles Maganga, said control numbers ensure that payments reach the government safely and are used for key development initiatives, including education, healthcare, and water infrastructure.
"The control number system is designed to give citizens confidence that their money is reaching the intended destination and being used to improve public services," he said.
Mr Maganga, who works with the ministry’s Department of Financial Systems and ICT Management, said the government has simplified the payment process through the Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG), which allows citizens to make secure payments via mobile phones.
“The system is user-friendly, accessible, and reduces the time citizens spend in queues. It also enables the government to receive timely and accurate revenue data,” he said.
Mr Maganga added that various public institutions, agencies, and companies have been integrated into the GePG platform to make the process easier and more reliable. He also cautioned the public against making any government payments outside the control number system.
“Payments made without using control numbers create loopholes for misuse and can lead to public funds being diverted for unintended purposes,” he warned.
Mr Maganga invited members of the public to visit the Ministry of Finance pavilion at the DITF to learn more about the GePG system and other digital financial tools offered by the government.
The Ministry’s pavilion showcases expertise from several affiliated institutions, including the Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board (PSPTB), the National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA), the Unit Trust of Tanzania (UTT AMIS), the Self Microfinance Fund, the Capital Markets and Securities Authority (CMSA), and the Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX).
The 2025 Sabasaba trade fair, themed “Sabasaba International Trade Exhibitions, the Pride of Tanzania”, runs from June 28 to July 13 at the Mwalimu Nyerere Fairgrounds in Dar es Salaam.