MINISTER TELLS GOVT TECHNOCRATS TO BE FACILITATIVE TO BUSINESSES

BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSHA

Government technocrats have been requested to be more facilitative, rather than restrictive, to projects that can spur economic growth.

They should tone down their regulatory mentality and instead lend critical support to projects that enhance economic development.

"Your mentality has always been regulatory. You should be more facilitative rather than restrictive", insisted the Minister of State in the President's Office (Planning and Investment) Kitila Mkumbo.

 

He made the appeal in Arusha recently when closing the first ever workshop for the planning experts from the ministries and government departments. 

Prof Mkumbo said many technocrats in the public sector were good at putting in place regulatory measures, some of which are not necessary. 

He said although regulations were part and parcel of governance mechanisms, they should not roll back facilitation of economic activities.

"Public servants should change from being regulators to facilitators", he stressed, as the event ended at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC). 

The government, he said, is mandated to tackle the challenges facing the wananchi and that it should not be too restrictive to implementation of projects through unorthodox rules.

Prof Mkumbo said the government was keen to work closely with the private sector in order to spur economic growth and investments. 

"We will also support the private sector to generate jobs", he stated, noting that the national development vision was articulate on strengthening the private sector. 

It was through the private sector that the government collected taxes from which to pay salaries and implement socio-economic projects.

"We will also support the private sector in order to generate jobs", he stated, noting that the national development vision was clear on the private sector. 

Prof Mkumbo said his ministry, in collaboration with the Planning Commission, would seek ways and means to strengthen the planning cadre with  modern skills and tools.

He, however, implored the planning experts to observe integrity which he described as critical as well as prefer long-term rather than short term planning.

Lawrence Mafuru, the executive secretary of the Planning Commission said the planning experts were facing a number of challenges that need to be addressed. 

"Planning cadres are very useful for the government plans but have no lobby to speak for them. It is time they are fully supported to  enable it to deliver better", he pointed out.

The four day workshop, organized by the Planning Commission and the Uongozi Institute was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy Dotto Biteko on Monday.

In his opening remarks, the deputy PM criticised government departments making plans in isolation, saying the tendency was counter productive.

He insisted that preparation of the development plans should as much as possible involve the relevant departments and institutions.

He warned that the tendency by some ministries or institutions preparing such plans in isolation should be discouraged.

"There should be a mechanism of harmonizing all our development plans within the government for proper coordination", he said. 

He said development plans should be coordinated through involvement of the sectoral ministries or institutions.

The revival of the Planning Commission, he stated, was intended to ensure proper coordination of execution of the development projects.

The minister for Finance Mwigulu Nchemba said planning was an important tool in preparation and implementation of the government budget.