Accounting officers urged to strengthen management of public assets

KATAVI: ACCOUNTING officers and leaders of public institutions have been urged to strengthen the management of government assets by strictly adhering to laws, regulations and established guidelines.

The call was made by the Assistant Director responsible for Accidents and Compensation in the Government Assets Management Department at the Ministry of Finance, Dr Wenceslaus Sobayi, during the opening of a training session on public assets management for heads of public institutions held at the National Audit Office in Katavi Region.

Dr Sobayi said the government had intensified capacity building for leaders and senior officials in response to persistent challenges in the management of public assets, with the aim of improving efficiency in the use of public resources and reducing audit queries.

He said verification exercises conducted by the Ministry of Finance across various public institutions between the 2023/24 and 2025/26 financial years revealed a number of shortcomings, including missing ownership documents, failure to record assets in the Government Asset Management Information System (GAMIS), inconsistencies in asset registers, and the existence of obsolete, idle and surplus assets.

“These shortcomings continue to impose significant costs on the government through unnecessary procurement and maintenance, while also contributing to audit queries raised by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG),” Dr Sobayi said.

He stressed that accounting officers are responsible for ensuring that all public assets are registered in GAMIS, properly maintained and used for their intended purposes, and that reports on accidents, losses or damages are submitted promptly to the relevant authorities.

Dr Sobayi further encouraged participants to use the training as an opportunity to share experiences and adopt best practices that will strengthen accountability and enhance the value of government investments for the benefit of citizens.

Speaking on behalf of participants, Mpimbwe District Council Executive Director, Ms Shamim Mwariko, commended the Ministry of Finance for organising the training, saying it would significantly improve their performance in managing public assets.

She also appealed for continued and regular training sessions, particularly on the use of the GAMIS system, to improve efficiency, strengthen accountability and enhance public asset management.

The Chief Government Assets Manager at the Ministry of Finance, Mr George Kanyama said the government had strengthened the public asset management framework through amendments to the Public Finance Act, Cap. 348, and the introduction of the Public Asset Management Regulations of 2024.

He said the reforms aim to enhance efficiency, transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

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Mr Kanyama reminded accounting officers of their responsibility to uphold accountability in their institutions and to demonstrate strong leadership in safeguarding public assets.

He emphasised that public assets belong to all citizens and are entrusted to officials for stewardship on behalf of the nation, making their proper management essential.

The training brought together heads of public institutions from Katavi and Rukwa regions and aimed at strengthening public asset management ahead of the 2026/27 financial year.