Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has issued a strong warning to local government leaders, saying persistent conflicts and divisions within councils are undermining development and delaying the delivery of key public projects.
Speaking at the opening of the Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania (ALAT) Special General Meeting in Arusha on April 22, 2026, Dr Nchemba said internal wrangles among mayors, councillors and chairpersons are increasingly becoming a barrier to effective governance.
He said the government is concerned that while significant resources are being channelled into development projects, implementation is slowed in some areas due to leadership disputes.
“We must fulfil our responsibilities and avoid divisions. This is not what President Samia Suluhu Hassan expects from us,” he said, setting a firm tone for leaders attending the two-day meeting.
The Prime Minister’s remarks point to a broader governance challenge within local authorities, where political competition and internal disagreements are affecting decision-making and project execution at the grassroots level.
He cited cases where development initiatives have stalled, not due to lack of funding or planning, but because of unresolved conflicts that create factions within councils.
In a notable policy signal, Dr Nchemba proposed scrapping the current system of electing ALAT vice chairpersons every year, arguing that it fuels unnecessary rivalry and distracts leaders from service delivery.
He directed the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government to consult the Attorney General on whether legal or regulatory changes are needed, while also suggesting that ALAT itself could take action if empowered.
According to him, the annual elections are turning leadership into a continuous contest, with some officials shifting focus from governance to political survival.
“Leaders end up managing divided teams. Some are still learning their roles, yet campaigns for positions have already started,” he said.
Beyond governance issues, the Prime Minister also highlighted the central role of the private sector in driving Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, noting that it is expected to contribute about 70 percent of the economy under the plan.
He cautioned local leaders against overemphasising revenue collection at the expense of business growth, warning that such an approach could weaken the very sector needed to expand the tax base.
“If you nurture the private sector, revenue will grow. But if you prioritise revenue first, you risk killing the sector,” he said.
The remarks come at a time when the government is pushing for stronger local government performance as a foundation for national development, especially in job creation for youth and women.
At the same time, Dr Nchemba sought to reassure local leaders, saying the government recognises their efforts despite isolated cases of underperformance.
He encouraged them not to feel discouraged, stressing that the majority are delivering on their mandates and playing a key role in supervising development projects.
On welfare concerns, he acknowledged calls for improved benefits for councillors and said the government is already working on the matter following submissions by outgoing ALAT chairman Murshid Ngeze.
His speech underscored a central message: without unity and discipline at the local level, national development ambitions risk being slowed, regardless of the resources committed.
