OTR seeks results-driven public institutions
ZANZIBAR: THE Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR) has said that the future performance of public institutions and state-owned enterprises will largely depend on strong governance systems, strict accountability and resultsoriented leadership.
The OTR Director of Administration and Human Resources, Chacha Marigiri, made the remarks when presenting a paper titled “Governance in Public Investment Entities vis-à-vis the Functions and Powers of the Treasury Registrar” during a forum for board chairpersons and chief executive officers in Zanzibar yesterday.
He said sustainable national development cannot be achieved through investment alone, but through effective management systems that safeguard public resources and ensure investments generate meaningful returns for the country.
He said public institutions and state-owned enterprises play a critical role in driving economic growth, delivering public services and implementing the national development agenda, and therefore must operate under high standards of transparency, efficiency and accountability.
Mr Marigiri noted that government investments in public institutions and companies in which the state holds minority shares have reached 92.3tri/-, highlighting the need to strengthen governance and investment management systems.
The investment portfolio covers 308 public investment entities, including commercial and noncommercial institutions, companies with minority government shareholding, as well as domestic and foreign investments.
According to Mr Marigiri, the role of the OTR extends beyond routine oversight to ensuring institutions maintain financial discipline, operational efficiency and alignment with national priorities.
He outlined key responsibilities of the OTR, including monitoring institutional performance, tracking government dividends and investment returns, advising on board appointments and evaluations, conducting performance assessments and guiding strategic investment decisions.
Mr Marigiri urged board chairpersons and chief executives to strengthen governance systems through the use of technology, effective risk management, ethical leadership and data-driven decision-making.
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Drawing lessons from countries such as Singapore, Norway, China and Malaysia, he said the success of public investment depends more on the quality of governance than the amount of capital invested.
“No nation succeeds merely by owning public institutions. Success depends on how those institutions are managed with professionalism, accountability and long-term vision,” he said.
He further revealed that the OTR has developed a Long-Term Perspective Plan (2025/26–2049/50) aimed at positioning the office as a catalyst for economic growth through strategic public investments in sectors such as transport, energy, finance, agriculture, industry, tourism and mining.
Mr Marigiri said the long-term success of public investment entities will require stronger collaboration among boards, chief executives, government institutions and oversight bodies in order to build competitive institutions capable of delivering measurable results.
