Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi has urged the heads of 39 Union institutions to stop working in isolation and instead strengthen cooperation to ensure quality services reach Tanzanians on both sides of the Union.
He said the institutions are known as institutions of the United Republic of Tanzania and must therefore uphold the spirit of the Union through their actions, not merely in words.
Mr Ndejembi made the remarks on September 19, 2026, when he opened a meeting of the institutions in Unguja, warning against a tendency by some institutions to overlook one side of the Union, particularly when they receive international opportunities or invitations.
‘It is disappointing to see an institution operating as though it stands alone without involving the other side of the Union, whether the Mainland or Zanzibar,’ he said.
‘Leave here today with the understanding that we are building one house. Whether it is the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar or the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, we are building one house. There is no reason for us to compete against each other or engage in conflicts when it comes to serving citizens on the ground,’ Mr Ndejembi said.
He added that what citizens need are quality services that improve their economic, educational and health outcomes, rather than internal disputes between institutions.
He also reminded the institutions that the Office of the Vice President would continue to coordinate, oversee and provide guidance to ensure the rights and interests of both sides of the Union are upheld.
For his part, Minister Masauni stressed the importance of the institutions having a broad understanding of the mandate and spirit of the institutions they lead in serving Tanzanians.
He said his intention was to bring the institutions together so that they could become more effective in serving the nation.
Director General of the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), Efrahim Mafuru, said his institution works closely with its Zanzibar counterparts, particularly the Zanzibar Economic Empowerment Agency (ZEEA), in coordinating external trade and providing entrepreneurship education.
He said TanTrade has an office in Zanzibar and that the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar had already allocated land for the construction of a permanent office.
Mr Mafuru also stressed that TanTrade’s leadership observes the Union balance, with the deputy director general required to come from Zanzibar whenever the director general is from the Mainland.
Executive Secretary of the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (Necta), Professor Said Mohamed, said that, according to the Constitution, all the council’s activities fall under Union matters.
According to Professor Said, Necta works with regional and council committees across the country to administer examinations and appoint examiners from both sides of the Union.
‘In 2024, Necta officially began administering the national Form Two assessment to candidates in Zanzibar, and preparations are under way to begin constructing a permanent office in Zanzibar in the 2026/27 financial year,’ he said.
Director General of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), Dr Jabir Bakari, said the authority provides technical advice and guidance to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and oversees airlines operating in Zanzibar to ensure they meet international safety and service standards.