DAR ES SALAAM: THE Treasury Registrar’s Office of Zanzibar (TRO-Zanzibar) is set to leverage Ardhi University’s (ARU) expertise in property and facilities management to undertake comprehensive public asset valuation, aimed at supporting effective planning and investment in the archipelago.
The collaboration aligns with TRO-Zanzibar’s transformation agenda since its establishment in 2022, under a mandate to supervise government enterprises and public assets, including roads, airports, ports, buildings, land and machinery.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions, Zanzibar’s Treasury Registrar, Mr Waheed Muhammad Ibrahim Sanya, said the partnership reflects TRO-Zanzibar’s commitment to research-driven expertise for informed decision-making.
“Ardhi University has extensive experience in property and facilities research. We want to ensure all public assets in Zanzibar are properly reflected in the government’s audit records,” Mr Sanya said, adding that the office expects positive results from the collaboration.
He noted that TRO-Zanzibar is still a young institution, with its current focus on developing human resources capable of driving its mandate, while benefiting from ARU’s academic insights and technical guidance.
The MoU, whose implementation will begin tomorrow, will allow TRO-Zanzibar staff to be upskilled by ARU experts, including researchers and professionals in property and facilities management.
Mr Sanya also said that ARU experts will identify potential sectors of excellence for government investment, ensuring effective utilisation of public resources for citizens’ development.
Earlier, ARU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Evaristo Liwa, said the MoU is set for a five-year term.
“The initiative will involve research, consultancy, teaching and the exchange of information on public asset management, including short courses,” Prof Liwa said. He assured TRO-Zanzibar of effective execution, citing ARU’s reputation as a hub of academic expertise in teaching, research and consultancy in public property management.
Prof Liwa underlined that ARU is the only university in Tanzania offering a Property and Facilities Management programme. He noted that public asset valuation is crucial for determining government liquidity and financial capacity.
He added that the collaboration will also provide ARU students with practical feedback from TRO-Zanzibar’s operations, serving as valuable case studies to expand their understanding of property management.