DAR ES SALAAM: PUBLIC attention is set to focus on State House in Dar es Salaam on June 30 as Tanzania marks Gawio Day 2025/26, a key annual event that highlights the growing returns generated by public institutions and companies in which the government has invested.
While the event is widely recognised for the ceremonial presentation of a dummy cheque to the Head of State, it also reflects the broader work undertaken throughout the year by the Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR) in overseeing government investments and ensuring that they generate value for the nation.
The OTR oversees 308 public entities and government minority interest companies with a combined investment portfolio valued at 92.28 tri/.
Through this mandate, OTR monitors the performance of these institutions, safeguards public assets and collects dividends and other contributions on behalf of the government, which are later consolidated and presented during Gawio Day.
In this sense, the event represents the culmination of a structured investment cycle that links public asset management with national revenue mobilisation and accountability.
Against this backdrop, the 2024/25 financial year recorded a total of 1.028tri/- in dividends and other contributions from public entities and companies with government shareholding.
Of this amount, 764.1bn/- was generated by public institutions, while 263.4bn/- came from companies in which the government holds minority shares.
This performance provides a benchmark as attention shifts to the 2025/26 financial year, which is the focus of this year’s Gawio Day, while the 2024/25 results themselves marked a significant milestone, reflecting improved profitability, strengthened oversight, and enhanced performance across State-owned enterprises.
Building on this trajectory, the Director of Performance Management, Monitoring and Evaluation of Commercial Enterprises at the Office of the Treasury Registrar, Ms Lightness Mauki said earlier this week that Gawio Day reflects the outcome of sustained reforms in the management of public investments.
She explained that the 92.28tri/- portfolio is not the result of a single financial year performance, but a cumulative outcome of long-term investments, expansion of State-owned enterprises and continuous strengthening of governance systems across public entities.
Ms Mauki noted that OTR’s core responsibility is to ensure that public investments remain productive, financially sustainable and capable of delivering returns to the government.
She explained that the continuous process of monitoring performance, engaging institutions and collecting dividends and other statutory contributions throughout the year is what ultimately makes the consolidated presentation during Gawio Day possible.
“The value of government investments reflects years of strategic decisions, reinvestment and reforms aimed at strengthening performance across public entities,” she said.
She added: “These assets continue to generate value for Tanzanians through structured oversight and improved efficiency.”
She further explained that these investments span key sectors of the economy, including energy, transport, ports, aviation, telecommunications, financial services, mining, manufacturing, agriculture and water, which are central to industrialisation, economic transformation and long-term national development.
At the policy level, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consistently emphasised that public investments must deliver measurable value to citizens.
She said: “Public investments must work for the people and deliver real and measurable benefits to Tanzanians.”
Reinforcing this position, she further explained that Stateowned enterprises and public assets belong to Tanzanians and must therefore be managed with efficiency, discipline and accountability in order to advance national development goals.
Building on this policy direction, the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Prof Kitila Mkumbo, has stressed the transformative role of public investments.
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He said: “State-owned enterprises must be engines of economic transformation, not just custodians of public assets.”
He further explained that aligning investments with longterm frameworks such as Dira 2050 requires stronger efficiency, governance systems and commercial discipline across public institutions.
Similarly, the Treasury Registrar, Nehemiah Mchechu, has emphasised the importance of strong oversight and professional management in delivering value from government investments.
“Our responsibility is to ensure public assets are protected, well-managed and continuously generate value for the country,” he said.
He further maintained that the OTR’s role extends beyond dividend collection to include strengthening performance, governance and sustainability across all entities under its supervision.
Against this backdrop, over the past five years, the value of government investments has grown steadily from 67.95tri/- in 2020/21 to 92.28 tri/- to date, representing an increase of about 36 percent.
The growth reflects continued investment, improved performance of public entities, expansion of business activities and strengthened asset management systems across the portfolio.
In this broader context, Gawio Day has evolved from a ceremonial presentation of dividends into a wider accountability platform that demonstrates the performance of government investments, promotes transparency in public asset management and recognises institutions that demonstrate strong governance and financial discipline.
For ordinary citizens, the 92.28tri/- portfolio represents investments in electricity generation, transport systems, financial institutions, communication infrastructure, mining operations and other strategic assets that underpin economic activities and public service delivery.
Collectively, these investments form a foundational pillar for Tanzania’s long-term development and economic competitiveness.
As reforms continue to strengthen oversight and performance management, their contribution to national growth is expected to increase further. Prepared by the Office of the Treasury Registrar.