The Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR) has stressed that the future performance of public institutions and state-owned enterprises depends largely on strong governance systems, accountability and results-driven leadership.
The remarks were made by the Director of Administration and Human Resources at the OTR, Mr Chacha Marigiri, while presenting a paper titled “Governance in Public Investment Entities vis-à-vis the Functions and Powers of the Treasury Registrar” at a forum for chairpersons and chief executive officers in Zanzibar.
Mr Marigiri said on Sunday, May 24, 2026, that sustainable development cannot be achieved through investment alone, but through effective management systems that safeguard public resources and ensure they are used productively for national development.
He said public entities play a key role in driving economic growth, delivering services and implementing the national development agenda, and must therefore be managed with high standards of transparency, efficiency and accountability.
He noted that government investments in public institutions and companies in which the state holds minority shares have reached 92.3 trillion shillings, underscoring the need to strengthen governance and investment management systems.
That investment spans 308 public investment entities, including commercial and non-commercial institutions, companies in which the government holds minority interests, as well as domestic and foreign investments.
Mr Marigiri said the OTR’s role goes beyond routine oversight, focusing instead on ensuring institutions operate with financial discipline, efficiency and alignment with national priorities.
He outlined key functions of the OTR as monitoring performance, tracking government dividends and returns, advising on board appointments and evaluations, conducting performance assessments and guiding investment decisions.
He urged board chairpersons and chief executives to strengthen governance systems through technology use, risk management, ethical leadership and data-driven decision-making.
He said experience from countries such as Singapore, Norway, China and Malaysia shows that the success of public investment depends more on the quality of governance than the scale of investment.
“No nation succeeds merely by owning public institutions. Success depends on how those institutions are managed with professionalism, accountability and long-term vision,” he said.
Mr Marigiri added that the OTR has prepared a Long-Term Perspective Plan (2025/26–2049/50) aimed at positioning the office as a catalyst for economic growth through strategic public investments in transport, energy, finance, agriculture, industry, tourism and mining.
He said sustained success will depend on stronger collaboration between boards, chief executives, government and oversight bodies to build competitive institutions capable of delivering measurable results.
