Samia to receive dividends from government entities in June

ZANZIBAR: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to receive dividends from public entities and companies in which, the government holds minority shares during the first week of June, officials have announced.

The update was revealed by Director of Performance Management, Monitoring and Evaluation for Commercial Public Entities in the Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR), Ms Lightness Mauki, during the Zanzibar CEO’s Forum, a three-day event that brought together chief executives from both Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Ms Mauki revealed that the treasury had already collected 749bn/- in dividends and contributions as of May 7th, this year, representing 67 per cent of the annual target of 1.113tri/- for the 2024/25 financial year.

“We are confident of meeting our target, as public institutions are currently performing well,” she said.

“The good news is that— barring any changes—the handover of dividends to President Samia is scheduled for June 6th this year. We are truly grateful to these institutions for their significant contributions to national development.”

From the total collections of 749bn/-, dividends from corporations and minority interests accounted for 63 per cent.

The mandatory 15 per cent contribution from gross revenues to the Consolidated Fund accounts for 29 per cent, while other remittances, including on-lending (loan repayments and interest) and collections from the Telecommunication Traffic Monitoring System (TTMS), contributed 8 per cent.

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Collections as of May 7th this year are significantly higher than the 500bn/- recorded by the same date last year—an increase of nearly 50 per cent.

Speaking on behalf of Treasury Registrar Mr Nehemiah Mchechu, Ms Mauki noted the impact of the 309 government institutions under treasury oversight, noting that they now contribute around three per cent to national development initiatives.

She noted several key projects backed by these institutions, including the expansion of the Kilombero Sugar Factory, which involved an investment of 570bn/-.

The project is expected to deliver substantial economic benefits to surrounding communities.

Ms Mauki also mentioned ongoing expansion efforts at cement factories in Mbeya and Tanga, adding that the government has invested approximately 86tri/- in the 309 institutions under its portfolio.

The Treasury Registrar for Zanzibar, Mr Waheed Mohamed Ibrahim Sanya, praised the strong collaboration between his office and their mainland counterparts.

Ms Mauki further pledged to enhance cooperation through experience-sharing and institutional capacity-building.

The Zanzibar CEO’s Forum was the first to be held since the platform was established, following a directive from Zanzibar’s Second Vice-President Mr Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, who called for stronger unity and coordination among publicsector CEOs in both parts of the Union.