Zanzibar Treasury Partners with NIT to Enhance Government Vehicle Protection

ZANZIBAR: IN a bid to protect public assets and improve efficiency, the Office of the Zanzibar Treasury Registrar has announced plans to strengthen professional collaboration with the National Institute of Transport (NIT) to enhance the skills and discipline of government drivers. The Isles Treasury Registrar, Mr Waheed Muhammad Ibrahim Sanya, made the announcement during a recent meeting between officials from his office and NIT management held in Dar es Salaam. He said the partnership aims to improve the use, control, and maintenance of government vehicles, ensuring public assets are safeguarded, properly maintained, and used in line with principles of accountability and value for public money. Mr Waheed explained that the Treasury Registrar’s Office was established under Act No. 6 of 2021, which mandates it to oversee investments of public institutions and manage all public assets under the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government, including movable and immovable property such as government vehicles. “Managing public assets requires strong systems, professional guidelines, and skilled human resources to ensure assets are efficiently used, well maintained, and have a longer lifespan,” he said. ALSO READ: Students receive clove seedlings to help finance their education “My office issues guidelines on the proper use of public assets and currently has draft regulations on the use, control, and maintenance of government vehicles to reduce unnecessary damage and control maintenance costs.” Given NIT’s expertise in transport, Mr Waheed said the institute is a key partner in achieving these objectives through structured and sustainable training programmes for government drivers. Speaking at the meeting, Senior State Attorney and Head of the Legal and Services Unit at the Treasury Registrar’s Office, Mr Mustapha Omar Abdalla, said the discussions aimed to lay the foundation for close collaboration in providing specialised professional training to government drivers. “The partnership will support short courses and seminars to enhance drivers’ skills. Many drivers start work immediately after receiving a driving licence without adequate training specific to government vehicle operations,” he explained. “This often results in improper vehicle use, higher maintenance costs, and, in some cases, road safety risks.” Mr Mustapha added that the training will cover proper vehicle use, routine maintenance, basic mechanical knowledge, government procedures and regulations, as well as professional and ethical standards expected of government drivers, including dress code and workplace discipline. “Our goal is to ensure government vehicles are properly maintained and used efficiently while drivers fully understand their responsibilities,” he said. Deputy Rector of NIT responsible for Planning, Finance, and Administration, Dr Zainab Mshana, said the institute offers a wide range of transport-related training, including aviation, road, railway, and maritime studies. She highlighted NIT’s extensive experience, infrastructure, and qualified experts, enabling it to deliver high-quality training that meets national and international standards. Dr Mshana confirmed that NIT is ready to collaborate with the Treasury Registrar’s Office by hosting government drivers at the institute or deploying expert teams to conduct tailored training programmes at agreed locations. She also stressed the importance of formalising the partnership through a memorandum of understanding.