Planners urged to move from plans to results

ARUSHA: PLANNERS have been urged to understand the national direction and leadership vision and translate them into concrete development results through effective, ethical and accountable implementation.

Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Prof Kitila Mkumbo made the call in Arusha today during the two-day National Planners’ Conference 2026, which is expected to be closed tomorrow by Prime Minister, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba.

Prof Mkumbo said planners have a critical role in ensuring that the aspirations outlined in the National Development Vision 2050 are effectively implemented.

He said their role goes beyond preparing development plans to coordinating implementation and ensuring that plans are translated into measurable results.

“We have to change. Let us stop measuring ourselves by activities and start measuring ourselves by results,” he said.

Prof Mkumbo also called for a change in mindset among public officials, saying Tanzania’s development ambitions under Vision 2050 require a departure from business-as-usual approaches.

He urged local government authorities to change their approach towards the private sector by creating an environment that enables businesses, farmers and other producers to grow, create jobs and contribute to government revenues.

“For example, if a farmer in your area cultivates and harvests crops, you should create an environment that enables that farmer to sell the produce,” he said.

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He said every development intervention should consider how it could contribute to creating productive employment, particularly for young people.

“Whatever we do, we must ask ourselves how we can create jobs for young people,” he said.

The minister also urged planners and government officials to base their decisions and advice on reliable data and evidence rather than assumptions or personal feelings.

“We should not simply advise or make decisions based on feelings. We need to generate data and evidence,” he stressed.

Prof Mkumbo challenged local government authorities to transform themselves into centres of economic activity by creating conditions that allow businesses to flourish and expand their revenue base.

He said regions should return to report on what they had implemented and the results achieved, including the number of new businesses and jobs created.

For her part, Permanent Secretary in the President’s Office for Planning and Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission, Dr Tausi Kida said Vision 2050 must be linked to sectoral, institutional, regional and local government plans, as well as private-sector investment plans.

She said the vision must also be supported by development plans, annual budgets, programmes and projects.

“Integrated planning is not simply an academic concept; it is a fundamental requirement for implementing Vision 2050,” she said.

Dr Kida said planners should move beyond preparing documents to becoming “architects of change, coordinators, mobilisers of institutions and resources, guardians of national priorities and managers of results.”

She said the conference brought together planners, economists, statisticians, technical experts, researchers, academics, government leaders, private-sector representatives and development partners to strengthen planning, implementation and results measurement.