City council officials reminded value of data-backed reports

By The guardian reporter

Mwanza City

Councillors and ward executive officers in Mwanza Region must back their development project reports with statistical data for a clearer understanding of the magnitude of problems they encounter in implementation.


Mwanza City Executive Director, Halipha Hida, issued the directive over the weekend shortly after the region’s councillors tabled reports on implementation of development projects in various areas.

Hida told the Mwanza City Council (MCC) that reports not supported with statistics do not give the ground reality of problems facing wananchi.
As such, it is difficult for the city authorities to work on the problems emphasising:

“We are determined to work on all challenges hindering the development of our people, but we can only do so if we get good reports supported by statistics.”
Hida said the tabled reports highlighted a number of shortcomings including a delay in disbursing funds for development projects and wananchi refusing to contribute towards the development projects as well as a dire shortage of staff.

On the shortage of workers, Hida said staff employment is under the Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government but told them that a process is underway to give the councils authority to employ.

“Ones the councils have the authority to hire staff, the issue of workers’ shortage will be handled,” he said.

Hida admitted that the issue of delayed disbursement of funds for development projects in the wards is a challenge that is yet to be overcome. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN