MWANZA: AT the heart of every ward and council, development projects tell a simple but powerful story about leadership.
A completed classroom, a functioning health facility, a reliable water point: these are not just structures. They are the most visible proof that leadership is working and that those entrusted with power are accountable to the people who elected them.
For councillors, understanding that development projects are the foundation of public trust is not optional, it is central to effective leadership. Communities judge their leaders less by speeches and promises and more by what changes on the ground.
When roads are improved, services delivered and livelihoods strengthened, citizens begin to believe that leadership can indeed improve their daily lives.
Active involvement by councillors in the implementation of projects strengthens transparency and accountability.
By closely supervising projects, asking questions, and working alongside technical experts, councillors help ensure that public resources are used as intended.
This hands-on approach reassures citizens that their leaders are present, attentive and committed, not distant figures who appear only during election periods.
Ultimately, effective project implementation builds trust. Citizens measure leadership through visible results, particularly development and social projects that directly affect their well-being.
When councillors see project success as both a political and social achievement, they are more likely to champion timely, high-quality implementation.
In doing so, development moves beyond plans on paper and becomes a lived reality one that strengthens confidence in leadership and lays the groundwork for sustainable progress.
When councillors recognise that the success of projects is also their political and social success, they oversee development projects in collaboration with council professionals to ensure projects are completed on time and to the required quality standards.
This approach helps ensure that projects align with citizens’ actual needs rather than being merely theoretical, and projects based on real needs generate greater economic benefits.
While presenting a topic on Planning, Budgeting and Management of Development Projects during a three-day training for councillors held in Mwanza City, a lecturer from the Hombolo Local Government Training Institute, Ms Magdalena Kyaruzi, said that councillors have a duty to thoroughly understand the processes of planning, budget preparation and management of development projects within Local Government Authorities.
She said councillors will fulfill this responsibility by adhering to the National Development Vision 2050 and the system of decentralisation by devolution.
She emphasised that councillors are required to understand participatory planning and budgeting, as well as the legal foundations governing their formulation and implementation.
She added that they also have a responsibility to understand the use of the improved Opportunities and Obstacles to Development (O&OD) framework as an important tool for involving citizens in identifying needs, setting priorities, implementing and overseeing development projects from the grassroots level up to the council level.
“They have a responsibility to understand the stages of planning and budgeting at community levels (Village/ Street/Hamlet) and at the Council level, as well as the Community Development Process, which includes community preparation, planning, joint implementation, monitoring, and evaluation,” she explained.
Ms Kyaruzi added: “A councillor has the right and responsibility to participate in the Ward Development Committee, the Council of Councillors and in overseeing various development projects in their ward, while also presenting citizens’ challenges during Council meetings.”
Presenting a topic on the Laws Governing the Operations of Local Government Authorities (LGAs), a lawyer and trainer of the training, Mr Eustard Ngatale, said that councillors have a duty to unHow projects tell powerful story about leadership DR Bahati Msaki, the Medical Officer In-Charge of the Mwanza regional referral hospital-Sekou Toure. derstand the meaning of Local Governments as citizens’ institutions that are established, operated, and administered in accordance with laws, regulations and procedures.
He said a councillor is required to have an in-depth understanding of the laws governing the operations of LGAs, their relationship with the Central Government, and the powers of the Minister responsible for Local Government.
“The objective of this topic was to build a councillors’ understanding of the laws governing LGAs. Specifically, it aimed to enable councillors to identify applicable laws for LGAs, explain the relationship between the Central Government and LGAs, and outline the powers of the Minister responsible for LGAs,” he explained.
He mentioned key laws discussed during the training that are used in administering LGAs, including the Constitution of the United Republic (Articles 145–146), which recognises LGAs, their establishment, roles, and operational procedures, and grants citizens the authority to participate in development planning.
“We taught them to understand that the Local Government (District Authorities) Act, Cap. 287, clearly outlines the establishment, structure, membership, functions, procedures for enacting by-laws, and the relationship with the Central Government,” he said.
Mr Ngatale said councillors have a duty to thoroughly understand the process of planning, budget preparation and management of development projects in Local Government Authorities, and that they will carry out this responsibility by adhering to the National Development Vision 2050 and the decentralisation framework.
He reiterated that councillors must understand participatory planning and budgeting, the legal foundations governing their formulation and implementation, and the use of the improved O&OD framework as a vital tool for citizen engagement from the grassroots to the council level.
“These trainings are an initiative introduced by the Minister’s Office to provide orientation training to all councillors elected in the general election, in order to build their capacity to understand the scope and execution of their duties in accordance with laws and regulations,” he said.
He listed some of the topics covered in the training as leadership and governance, budgeting, councillors’ ethics, planning and budgeting, management of government staff and finances, councillors’ rights, duties and entitlements, good governance, the structure and powers of local governments, conduct of statutory meetings and sessions, and management of land issues within their councils.
Officially opening the first phase of the training for councillors from Mwanza City Council, Ilemela Municipal Council, Magu and Ukerewe recently elected in last year’s general election—the Mwanza Regional Commissioner, Mr Said Mtanda, said there is still a misconception among leaders and citizens that project supervision is solely the responsibility of Regional or District Commissioners.
He said that misconception results in some development projects not being properly implemented, while councillors assume it is the responsibility of engineers or directors.
He urged councillors in all councils in Mwanza Region to recognise that the implementation of development projects in their areas is the foundation of the trust placed in them by citizens.
He stressed the importance of councillors supervising projects, reporting any identified shortcomings and ensuring that development funds are used for their intended purposes.
Mr Mtanda said the training is important for councillors as it builds their capacity in key areas including leadership and good governance, laws governing local government operations, conduct of statutory meetings, planning and budgeting and management of staff and development projects.
He reiterated that misconceptions persist regarding project supervision being the sole responsibility of Regional or District Commissioners, leading to poor implementation of some projects, while councillors assume it is the role of engineers or directors.
Mr Mtanda called on councillors to understand that implementing development projects in their areas is the basis of public trust, emphasising the need to supervise projects, report flaws when identified, and ensure development funds are used as intended.
He also directed councils that have not yet reached the 80 per cent threshold in the use of POS machines including Sengerema District Council to complete the procurement of the machines within three months and submit implementation reports.
The Chairperson of the seminar on behalf of the councillors, who is also the Councilor for Isamilo Ward, Charles Nyamasiriri, said the training had enhanced his capacity to understand his limits, how to execute councillor duties, and how to oversee the council.
“I ask the government to continue building our capacity, because education has no end, so that we can continue performing our councillors’ duties effectively in accordance with the laws, regulations and procedures in force,” Nyamasiriri explained.