Zanzibar hosts senior officials and experts meeting on Dar es Salaam’s financial performance assessment
Senior officials and experts of Dar Es Salaam City’s financial performance assessment report concluded today that major experts from Africa were actively involved. The meeting brought together senior representatives from Tanzania and beyond to review and verify the financial status of the city of Dar es Salaam and identify strategies to strengthen its financial space in the face of ongoing urban challenges.
The meeting is open by Hon. Zanzibar Mayor Mahmoud M. Mussa welcomed the experts and stressed the importance of regional cooperation in addressing the financial challenges faced by African cities. Mayor Mussa said: “This workshop reflects our commitment to fostering municipal financial cooperation and I believe that shared insights will not only make Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar ) and other cities in the region benefited. ”
In his keynote speech, the Deputy Governor of Nairobi emphasized the critical importance of expanding municipal fiscal space to address the complexity of rapid urbanization and urban governance. “The DA-15 projects we collect today are crucial to providing local governments with the financial tools they need to manage challenges such as climate change, population growth and economic disparities,” he said.
During the meeting, Ms. Susan Ngongi Namondo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Tanzania, reiterated the need to strengthen fiscal resilience to ensure sustainable development. “Increasing urban fiscal resilience is key to ensuring that cities can meet the needs of growing populations and achieve inclusive economic growth,” Ms Namondo said.
The conference was held in Zanzibar from 13 to 14 February 2025. The Financial Assessment report highlights several key challenges, including the city’s reliance on central government transfers, high operating costs and the need to better integrate revenue collection systems.
Some key suggestions were made during the discussion:
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System integration: Calls on the establishment of fully integrated, automated billing and payment systems to improve revenue collection and service delivery.
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Diversified income: Recommendations to expand the income base by exploring untapped departments and reviewing existing tax rates.
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Improve efficiency: Use technologies such as GIS mapping to enhance revenue collection and reduce debts.
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Enhance financial autonomy: Strengthen Dar es Salaam’s fiscal autonomy by reducing its dependence on central government transfers and diversified sources of income.
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Expenditure Management: It is recommended to give priority to spending high-impact activities to ensure adequate funding for essential services.
“We must work together to cultivate fiscal autonomy, improve financial management and invest in the long-term sustainability of the city,” said Atkeyelsh Persson, head of the Urbanization and Development Department of UNECA. “This report is helping Dares es Salaam. Salaam is a key step toward facing its financial challenges and becoming a role model for other African cities,” Persson added.
In summary, the conference reinforced the need for ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing to drive fiscal reform and promote resilient urban development across the continent. The final report will be included in expert recommendations and is expected to be an important tool for the city of Dar es Salaam and other municipalities in Africa to seek financial sustainability and inclusive growth.
Issued by Apo Group on behalf of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
