Members of the House of Representatives warned that the basic principles of good governance in Zanzibar are being eroded, and called on the Ministry of the Constitution, Legal Affairs, Civil Service and Good Governance to take immediate measures to restore professional standards. During the ministry's budget estimate debate in Chukwani, lawmakers argued that systemic failures were seriously impeding the provision of public services.
Lawmakers stressed that internal divisions in government agencies undermine the effectiveness and productivity of employees. During the debate, Panday's spokesperson Omar Fakih Hamad (ACT Wazalendo) criticized the ministry for encouraging management training but not putting it into practice within the country. He highlighted six critical areas that are not being addressed: participation, efficiency, quality of work, accountability, transparency and equality. He argued that the government's reliance on foreign companies to provide outsourced services was a direct consequence of this internal inefficiency.
In response, a state minister in the administration of Second Vice President Hamza Hassan Juma explained that the partnership with private firms is a legal mechanism aimed at improving efficiency, rather than evidence of a shortage of qualified civil servants.
However, other representatives expressed concerns about workplace culture and institutional integrity. Chumbuni representative Makame Mohamed Soufiani (CCM) noted that managers often create conflict groups and punish employees who express constructive criticism. Meanwhile, Ole Seif's spokesman Hamad Suleiman (ACT Wazalendo) called for increased awareness of human rights in security agencies. Elly Masud Elly (ACT Wazalendo) and Yaku Hashim Ayub (Paje) pointed to systemic inequality, noting that the disparate benefit structures in various institutions violate the basic principles of public service.
The judiciary has also been tested. Women's quota representative Moza Mohamed Khamis (ACT Wazalendo) argued that despite the constitutional independence of the judiciary, it is still subject to external interference. She also highlighted that the shortage of judges there are currently only 15 has led to an accumulation of unresolved cases and significant delays in judicial proceedings.
Earlier, Acting Minister of State in the Presidential Administration for Constitution, Legal Affairs, Public Service and Good Governance Suleiman Masud Makame requested 123,682 billion shillings to fund 10 priority areas. These include strengthening electronic systems for the provision of public services, stepping up efforts to combat corruption, improving control over resources and strengthening the judicial infrastructure. The ministry's plan also includes the introduction of accountability agreements for executives, the expansion of the Institute of Public Administration in Pemba and the establishment of a new law school and an Islamic university.
