The government has called for closer oversight of economic empowerment funds and programmes to ensure they deliver measurable benefits to Tanzanians instead of operating without clear evidence of their impact.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, said on Friday that the National Economic Empowerment Council (NEEC) should strengthen coordination and supervision of the various initiatives intended to improve citizens’ economic opportunities.
Prof Kabudi made the remarks when he met the newly appointed NEEC Executive Secretary, Mr Jabiri Makame, at the Prime Minister’s Office.
He said the existence of multiple empowerment funds and programmes required stronger coordination so that their roles, beneficiaries and results could be clearly established.
“We have many empowerment funds and programmes. We need to know what each of them does, coordinate them and, most importantly, see effectiveness in empowering citizens,” Prof Kabudi said.
The minister said Tanzanians were willing to work and improve their livelihoods but often needed access to knowledge, information on available systems and reliable markets to turn their efforts into sustainable economic activities.
“Tanzania has very hardworking people. What they need is knowledge, to understand the systems and access to markets,” he said.
His remarks place greater emphasis on the performance of empowerment programmes, particularly whether resources set aside for citizens are translating into practical economic opportunities.
Prof Kabudi also congratulated Mr Makame on his appointment and said his previous experience as a district commissioner and regional commissioner could help him in executing NEEC’s mandate.
He thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for appointing Mr Makame and expressed confidence that his experience in local and regional administration would contribute to the council’s work.
Mr Makame thanked Prof Kabudi for the guidance and pledged to work with NEEC staff to implement the directives.
He said the council would work to meet citizens’ expectations as Tanzania begins implementing the National Development Vision 2050.
The meeting comes at a time when the government is seeking to expand economic opportunities for citizens through various empowerment schemes targeting groups including entrepreneurs, young people and other beneficiaries.
For such programmes, the key challenge is ensuring that support reaches intended beneficiaries, is coordinated across institutions and produces results that can be measured.
Earlier, Mr Makame also met Deputy Minister Ummy Nderiananga and Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr James Kilabuka, who represented the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities.