TZ ups diplomacy ambitions
DODOMA: TANZANIA is committed to enhancing its global diplomatic ambitions, as the government introduces stringent measures to monitor the performance of its diplomats.
In realising the country’s diplomacy goals, the government said yesterday it will start evaluating the performance of diplomats representing the country in foreign embassies, using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from the next financial year.
The new performance assessment model will also extend to other personnel within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation.
The move aims to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability in the implementation of key priorities set by the ministry in the next financial year 2024/2025, according to the Minister responsible for the docket, Mr January Makamba.
Mr Makamba made the revelation in the august House yesterday when tabling budget estimates for his ministry, where he requested members to approve 241.069bn/- in both recurrent and development expenditures.
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KPIs are a set of quantifiable measurements used to gauge performance.
The purpose of KPIs is to help an organization determine its strategic, operational, and financial achievements, particularly compared to others in the same sector.
“This plan will identify the set priorities, the ministry’s strategic plan, as well as the environment in which someone works, and it will help our ambassadors, heads of divisions, and departments discharge their duties depending on the set targets,” noted Mr Makamba.
“The plan will be implemented concurrently with the newly introduced Public Employee’s Performance Management Information System (PEPMIS) and Public Institution Performance Management Information System (PIPMIS),” he added.
Later in the afternoon, MPs unanimously endorsed the proposed budget estimates as Mr Makamba outlined five key priorities to be implemented in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
The minister outlined the five key top priorities to be implemented in 2024/25 as coordinating economic diplomacy to catalyze investment, tourism, and trade, as well as facilitating the availability of financial resources for the country’s development in general.
Others are strengthening the country’s participation in regional and international organizations to protect national interests, as well as heightening political diplomacy and intensifying close relations with partner states.
“We also plan to intensify Tanzania’s lobbying campaigns with other countries on cross-cutting matters in regional and international organizations,” said the minister.
Another top priority, Mr Makamba said, is that Tanzania will continue participating in regional and international efforts to protect peace, defense, and security.
He also mentioned that his ministry will continually improve working conditions for its staff, intensify good governance and human resources, as well as implementing construction projects and purchasing and repairing offices used by the ministry, workers’ houses, and economic centers in foreign embassies and in the country at large.
Before the endorsement of the budget estimates, during the debate, Members of Parliament supported the ministry’s move to introduce a new system, KPIs, to assess ambassadors representing the country in foreign missions.
They were, however, quick to point out that the move should also include new measures to improve the working environment.
Both Special Seats lawmaker, Maimuna Mtanda (CCM), and Mafinga Urban legislator, Cosato Chumi (CCM), advised the government to ensure that representatives in foreign embassies are provided with a comfortable environment, including offices and residential houses, so that they can effectively discharge their duties.
