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Parliament is set to scrutinise public spending, government performance and development priorities when it begins its fifth meeting of the 13th Parliament on October 27, with 160 questions to ministers and three resolutions on the agenda.
The meeting, which will run until November 6, comes as the government prepares its National Development Plan for the 2027/28 financial year, giving MPs an opportunity to examine spending priorities and assess whether public resources are being directed towards improving services and addressing citizens' needs.
According to a parliamentary announcement issued on October 26, lawmakers will raise 160 questions to ministers during the meeting. Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba will also respond to questions from MPs, with approximately 16 questions scheduled for his session.
The questions are expected to provide a platform for lawmakers to seek explanations on government policies, implementation of development projects and the delivery of public services.
Of particular interest will be the Budget Committee's consideration of the National Development Plan for 2027/28, which will shape government priorities and resource allocation in the next financial year.
The plan is expected to attract scrutiny over how proposed investments address key development challenges, including access to essential services, infrastructure and economic opportunities.
Parliament will also receive reports from its public finance oversight committees, which are expected to shed light on the management of public resources and the performance of government institutions.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the Local Authorities Accounts Committee (LAAC) will present reports on audited accounts for the 2024/25 financial year.
The Committee on Public Investments (PIC) will also present its report on public investment for the same financial year.
The reports are particularly important because they provide Parliament with an opportunity to examine how public institutions spend taxpayers' money, identify financial and management weaknesses and demand explanations where resources have not been properly accounted for.
Their findings could also inform further action against institutions that fail to comply with financial regulations or implement recommendations from previous audits.
Beyond budgetary and accountability matters, MPs will deliberate on three resolutions.
The first seeks to commend President Samia Suluhu Hassan for hosting the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which took place in Arusha from October 5 to 9, 2026.
The second concerns ratification of amendments to the International Sugar Agreement of 1992, while the third seeks approval for Tanzania to join the African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection of 2014, commonly known as the Malabo Convention.
The proposed adoption of the Malabo Convention comes amid growing attention to cybersecurity and the protection of personal information as more public and private services move online.
The sugar agreement, meanwhile, forms part of Tanzania's engagement with international cooperation in the sugar sector.
The fifth meeting will provide MPs with an opportunity to question the government on policy implementation while examining how public institutions manage resources entrusted to them.
The full schedule of parliamentary business is available on the Parliament's website, www.bunge.go.tz.