By The Respondents reporter
Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Paul Makonda, has urged public servants to fulfil their duties diligently, warning that officials who are publicly rebuked by citizens during government meetings risk losing their jobs.
Makonda, who is also the Member of Parliament for Arusha Urban, made the remarks during a meeting with heads of departments in Arusha City, where he stressed that elected leaders are not responsible for day-to-day service delivery.
“We are not the implementers. An MP or councillor is not responsible for daily operations. You are employed on behalf of the people to deliver services,” Makonda told departmental heads.
He said poor performance by public officials often triggers public dissatisfaction, particularly when senior national leaders visit and question service delivery.
“If it reaches a point where a public servant is questioned in a public meeting and citizens boo them, procedurally that should be grounds for dismissal on the spot,” Makonda said, arguing that such reactions signal a loss of public confidence.
Makonda added that public servants should recognise their role in supporting the broader political leadership by ensuring efficient service delivery, suggesting that administrative performance directly affects public trust in elected leaders.
His comments come amid ongoing government efforts to improve accountability and efficiency within Tanzania’s public sector, as authorities push for better service delivery at regional and local government levels.