Dodoma. Tanzania has become the first country in Africa to integrate the Commonwealth Secretariat Debt Recording and Management System (CS-Meridian) with the Government Payment System (MUSE).
This achievement positions Tanzania as a regional training hub for these financial management systems. MUSE is a digital government payment system
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance responsible for Economic Management, Mr Elijah G. Mwandumbya, made the announcement in Dodoma while inaugurating a training programme for a team of experts from Kenya’s National Treasury and the Central Bank of Kenya.
The delegation is in Tanzania to learn about the implementation and operationalisation of the integrated systems.
Mr Mwandumbya said that the visiting experts were keen to explore how Tanzania manages debt-related data, given that both nations rely on borrowing from various stakeholders.
“We are pleased to welcome our counterparts, and we also expect to learn from them. This collaboration is just one of many joint efforts aimed at improving financial management and service delivery to our people,” Mr Mwandumbya said.
He said the Ministry of Finance would ensure the training sessions meet their intended objectives, enabling both countries to enhance their financial management capabilities.
He noted that such training fosters prudent borrowing practices, safeguards economic stability, and mitigates debt-related risks.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Head of the Debt Management Team at Kenya’s National Treasury and the Central Bank of Kenya, Mr Jeremiah Tomno, said the primary objective of their visit is to understanding Tanzania’s integration of CS-Meridian with MUSE and the Bank of Tanzania’s systems.
“Through the presentations, we have gained valuable insights, including aspects we had not anticipated. This knowledge will greatly benefit both countries,” Mr Tomno noted.
He added that as neighbouring economies within the same regional bloc, harmonised financial management practices were crucial for attracting investors.
He expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated his team’s commitment to gaining comprehensive expertise while sharing their own experiences for mutual benefit.
The Director of Financial Systems Management at the Ministry of Finance, Dr John Sausi, said Tanzania’s success in integrating MUSE and CS-Meridian has garnered attention from the Commonwealth.
The country’s effective debt management has prompted interest from other nations seeking to replicate the model.
“The Ministry of Finance has been implementing directives from President Samia Suluhu Hassan to integrate financial management systems. Significant progress has been made in unifying revenue collection mechanisms and expenditure management, reducing manual interventions in these processes,” Dr Sausi noted.
With Tanzania emerging as a leader in digital financial management systems, the integration is expected to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public finance management, setting a benchmark for other African economies.
