This call comes in response to repeated reports from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG), which have highlighted how mismanagement and inadequate oversight cost the nation billions of shillings each year
Dar es Salaam. Tanzanians are being encouraged to adopt a culture of monitoring and evaluation as a means of safeguarding their taxes and ensuring that public projects yield positive results.
This call comes in response to repeated reports from the Controller and Auditor General (CAG), which have highlighted how mismanagement and inadequate oversight cost the nation billions of shillings each year.
According to the government, empowering citizens to track and analyze the implementation of public projects is no longer optional; it is essential for building a transparent state where leaders and institutions are accountable to the people.
In an interview with The Citizen, Ms Sakina Mwinyimkuu, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation of Government Performance in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, and Coordination), explained that this initiative is part of ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing governance.
“Our department coordinates the national evaluation framework in collaboration with various stakeholders, both inside and outside the government,” she said.
“The goal is to improve performance across government, generate reliable information, and share it with the public and stakeholders. This way, citizens have the necessary tools to ask informed questions and hold institutions accountable.”
For decades, monitoring and evaluation have primarily been the domain of technical experts in ministries, development agencies, and donor organizations. However, officials now argue that excluding citizens from this process diminishes its effectiveness. Ms Mwinyimkuu emphasised:
“We are working to cultivate a culture of evaluation to ensure that programs, projects, and initiatives are implemented effectively.”
Her comments align with findings from the CAG, whose annual reports continue to reveal concerning trends. In recent years, taxpayers have borne the costs of incomplete health facilities, stalled road projects, and fraudulent expenditures in local government authorities.
For instance, the CAG’s 2023/24 report highlighted several abandoned construction projects, including hospitals and schools that received full funding but remained unfinished.
In Dodoma, millions were lost due to a contractor abandoning a water supply project after being paid in advance. In Dar es Salaam, flawed procurement processes for roadworks resulted in inflated costs and subpar workmanship.
Analysts contend that these instances underline the importance of citizen participation. Dr Anna Mbise, a governance expert at the University of Dar es Salaam, explained: “When people possess the skills and platforms to monitor how roads, schools, or health centres are constructed and maintained, they not only protect resources but also strengthen democracy.”
To further this agenda, the government will host the Fourth National Monitoring and Evaluation Conference from September 10 to 13, 2025, in Mwanza. This event, following previous conferences in Dodoma (2022), Arusha (2023), and Zanzibar (2024), will emphasize empowering communities to actively scrutinize state projects.
This year’s theme is “Strengthening Community Capacity to Monitor and Evaluate the Implementation of Government Interventions for Sustainable Development.”
Ms Mwinyimkuu said: “We welcome citizens, civil society groups, academics, private sector leaders, and even secondary school students. Everyone has a role in monitoring and evaluation. It is about learning, sharing experiences, and shaping the future of accountability in our country.”
Ms. Neema Kirembe, the Assistant Director in the same department, added that the event serves as an annual learning opportunity. “Each year, we bring together experts from both within and outside Tanzania to share knowledge. Citizens also gain practical skills on how to evaluate government plans and programs,” she said.
Mr. John Bosco, the Assistant Director in charge of Performance in Regions and Local Government Authorities, emphasized the importance of inclusivity. “We expect renowned speakers, workshops, and even competitions that will inspire both institutions and individuals to adopt more robust monitoring practices,” he noted.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr James Yonazi, expressed, “We aim to exchange experiences, skills, and expertise to strengthen monitoring and evaluation across the nation. We also aspire for Tanzania to become a training hub for monitoring and evaluation in East and Central Africa.”
Dr. Mbise concluded, “When citizens understand how to interpret budgets and progress reports, and when they participate in forums, they transition from being passive recipients of government services to active watchdogs.”ices to active watchdogs.”
