Dodoma. The Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR) has called for stronger backing from the Parliamentary Public Investment Committee (PIC) to advance long-term reforms in the management of public investments.
Speaking during the engagement held in Dodoma on January 15, Treasury Registrar, Nehemiah Mchechu, urged the PIC to continue providing close and consistent support in overseeing and guiding public investment reforms.
He said the success of the Long-Term Indicative Plan depends heavily on strong parliamentary oversight and policy guidance.
“Cooperation with the committee is vital in harmonising legal and institutional frameworks, strengthening corporate governance within boards and management, and creating an enabling environment for managing government investments on commercial and competitive principles,” Mr Mchechu noted.
He observed that the PIC plays a unique role in ensuring continuity and stability of reforms, particularly those with long-term implications that extend beyond annual budgets and political cycles.
The Treasury Registrar assured the committee that his office would continue to provide timely information, professional advice and full cooperation to enable the PIC to effectively discharge its parliamentary mandate.
“The Office remains committed to transparency and open engagement on all matters related to monitoring, evaluation and oversight of public investments,” Mr Mchechu said.
In further engagements with the committee, OTR officials presented the office’s mandate, operational priorities and long-term strategic direction.
They stressed that effective cooperation with Parliament remains central to the success of ongoing and future reforms in public investment management.
The OTR officials explained that the Office’s mandate is grounded in an institutional history dating back to 1959 and is legally established under the Treasury Registrar Act, Cap. 370.
The Office noted that several legal and institutional reforms have been implemented over time to enable it to operate effectively within a modern economic and commercial environment that demands greater transparency and efficiency.
Members of the committee were informed that the OTR executes its responsibilities across four main areas.
These include holding and safeguarding government assets on behalf of citizens; advising the government on investments and the management of public entities; overseeing the performance of public institutions and corporations; and managing restructuring and privatisation processes in line with existing laws and policies.
The Office emphasised that a core aspect of its mandate is ensuring that public entities contribute effectively to the Consolidated Fund through non-tax revenues.
At the same time, it seeks to reduce the long-standing reliance of many entities on subsidies from the central government.
According to the OTR, strengthening the commercial orientation of public entities, improving governance structures and enforcing performance accountability are key to easing fiscal pressure and maximising returns on public investments.
The committee was also briefed on organisational reforms undertaken in 2023, which resulted in an improved structure comprising nine Directorates and five Units.
The Office said the new structure was designed to enhance accountability, improve operational efficiency and respond to the growing number of public entities under its oversight.
It added that the structure also takes into account changing technological, economic and governance dynamics, which increasingly shape the performance and sustainability of public investments.
A central focus of the engagement was the presentation of the Office’s Long-Term Indicative Plan for the period 2026 to 2050.
Through the plan, the OTR outlined its vision of managing government investments from a long-term perspective anchored on productivity, accountability and sustainability.
The plan is aligned with the national development vision, Dira 2050, and positions public investments as a key driver of economic transformation.
It places emphasis on improving the financial and operational performance of public entities, strengthening governance frameworks and enhancing monitoring and evaluation systems.
The OTR said the plan is intended to ensure that public investments deliver measurable value for money and tangible socio-economic benefits, while remaining resilient to future economic and fiscal pressures.
On his part, PIC Chairperson Masanja Kadogosa said the committee expects the OTR to implement its mandate decisively and to deliver clear, measurable results.
He singled out improved performance of public entities, increased non-tax revenues and reduced reliance on government subsidies as key benchmarks.
Mr Kadogosa stressed that public entities must operate efficiently and competitively to contribute meaningfully to gross domestic product growth and to improve the welfare of citizens.
“We expect to see transparency, good governance and accountability in the management of public investments,” he said.
He added that the committee is ready to support the Office of the Treasury Registrar in implementing reforms across public entities, while maintaining close oversight to ensure that public resources generate sustainable returns for the nation.
