Zanzibar’s Treasury Registrar is redefining public accountability

ZANZIBAR: WHEN President Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi rose to speak at a high-level forum of public sector leaders in Zanzibar, his tone carried both praise and urgency. In a government system often criticised for inefficiencies, he singled out one young institution for doing something different, delivering results.

The Office of the Treasury Registrar, barely five years old, has emerged as a quiet force behind efforts to restore accountability, protect public assets, and push state institutions toward financial independence.

Established in 2021, the Office of the Treasury Registrar may still be in its infancy, but its impact is already being felt across Zanzibar’s public sector.

“For a young institution, they have truly impressed me,” President Mwinyi told chairpersons and executives of public institutions gathered at the 2026 Public Entities Forum in Zanzibar. “When an institution performs well, we must commend it openly.”

That public endorsement was more than symbolic. It reflected a growing recognition that strong oversight, and the political will to enforce it, can reshape how governments function. At the heart of this transformation is a simple but powerful idea: public institutions must deliver value.

For years, some stateowned enterprises relied heavily on government subsidies, with little pressure to generate revenue or operate efficiently.

In some cases, they became a burden on the national treasury, consuming resources without contributing meaningfully to economic growth. President Mwinyi made it clear that this era must come to an end.

“We want institutions that are innovative, accountable, and capable of generating income for the government,” he said. “Those that fail to meet these expectations will have no reason to continue existing.”

For officials working within the Treasury Registrar’s office, this directive is both a challenge and a mandate.

Their role goes beyond monitoring spreadsheets and financial reports. It involves reshaping institutional culture, encouraging boards and management teams to think like drivers of growth rather than passive recipients of state support.

The President tasked the office with three key responsibilities: strengthening oversight of public institutions, ensuring they operate with accountability and innovation, and pushing them to contribute revenue to the central government. One critical area is reducing dependency on subsidies.

“There are institutions that receive everything, from operational funds to salaries, from the government,” President Mwinyi noted. “The time has come for them to demonstrate real impact, including paying dividends.”

This shift is not just about cutting costs. It is about building a resilient economy where public entities play an active role in national development.

Beyond financial performance, the Office of the Treasury Registrar has also taken on another crucial task: safeguarding public assets.

Before its establishment, cases of asset mismanagement were not uncommon. Government houses, vehicles, and other resources were sometimes lost or improperly allocated. Today, that is changing.

“I am pleased with how carefully you are tracking public assets, even sand is being accounted for,” President Mwinyi remarked, underscoring the office’s meticulous approach.

The Registrar is now the chief custodian of public assets, responsible for ensuring they are identified, recorded, and protected. This includes maintaining a verified asset register and introducing systems to prevent loss or misuse.

For citizens, this work may not always be visible, but its impact is profound. Every recovered asset, every prevented loss, translates into resources that can be redirected toward public services such as health, education, and infrastructure.

The success of the Treasury Registrar’s office has also been supported by collaboration, both within Zanzibar and beyond.

Registrar Mr Waheed Ibrahim Sanya acknowledged the importance of learning from counterparts in mainland Tanzania, noting that shared experience has strengthened the office’s capacity and approach.

“When I was appointed, I was directed to learn from our colleagues on the mainland,” he said. “That experience has been invaluable.” At the same forum, stakeholders from the financial sector and beyond echoed optimism about Zanzibar’s economic trajectory.

Mr James Mwangi, Chief Executive Officer of Equity Bank, pointed to the region’s strong growth, noting that Zanzibar’s economy is expanding at an impressive rate, approaching 8.7 percent.

Meanwhile, UTT AMIS Managing Director Simon Migangala reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting investment and economic expansion, particularly in the financial sector.

These perspectives highlight a broader reality: effective public institutions are essential for attracting investment and sustaining growth.

Zanzibar is currently implementing major strategic projects aimed at transforming its economy. These include the construction of the Mangapwani Integrated Port, development of ports in Shumba and Wete and a new international airport in Pemba.

These projects are expected to open new frontiers for trade, tourism, and investment, positioning Zanzibar as a key gateway in East and Central Africa. But infrastructure alone is not enough.

For these investments to deliver maximum impact, public institutions must be efficient, transparent and accountable. That is where the Treasury Registrar’s office comes in.

By ensuring that institutions operate effectively and that public resources are properly managed, the office is helping to create an environment where development can thrive. Despite the progress made, the message from the President was clear: more work lies ahead.

Public institutions that fail to improve performance, generate revenue, or reduce reliance on government funding may face closure. “The time when the Treasury pays salaries for public enterprises is over,” President Mwinyi declared.

For the Treasury Registrar’s office, this represents both a responsibility and an opportunity, to drive a new era of accountability in Zanzibar.

ALSO READ: Why Mwinyi’s reforms are changing public servants’ lives

For citizens, it offers hope that public resources will be managed more wisely, institutions will deliver better services, and the economy will continue to grow. And for a young office that has already earned national recognition, the challenge now is to sustain momentum, and prove that good governance is not just possible, but transformative.

The post Zanzibar’s Treasury Registrar is redefining public accountability first appeared on Daily News.

The post Zanzibar’s Treasury Registrar is redefining public accountability appeared first on Daily News.