Revealed: Why some ambassadors underperform

Dar es Salaam. Inadequate financial resources and language barrier have been cited as some of the reasons Tanzania envoys fail to perform as per the government’s targets.

Recently, President Samia Suluhu Hassan observed that she was not happy with underperforming envoys who have become a burden to the nation.

President Hassan recently allocated workstations to three new envoys and transferred former Ambassador to China Mbelwa Kairuki to the United Kingdom.

In the UK, Mr Kairuki is replacing Dr Asha-rose Migiro whose contract in the public service has expired.

The three new envoys with their workplaces in brackets are; Khamis Mussa Omar (China); Ceaser Waitara (Namibia) and Bernard Kibesse (Kenya).

Ambassador Waitara is replacing Dr Modestus Kipilimba who has retired, while Mr Kibesse is replacing Mr Simbachawene who has been transferred to Uganda.

Speaking after swearing in the new envoys on Wednesday, President Hassan said some envoys were not performing efficiently to benefit the country, thus turning a liability to the government.

She called on the envoys to properly represent the country for her to record the outcome of their representation.

However, the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) says in the 2021/22 audit reports that not all the funds allocated to 43 embassies were released as approved, something that adversely affects implementation of duties.

Speaking to The Citizen, the Tanzania Retired Ambassadors’ Association chairman, Ambassador James Nsekela said financial resources were much needed for envoys to efficiently execute their duties, noting that most of the time injected resources correlates to outcomes.

“If an envoy has extra demands in implementing his/her personal innovative job, then he/she is required to follow procedures and strongly present his or case  because the government budgets are subject to such arguments in order to meet set targets,” he said.

Dr Nsekela said ambassadors entrusted by the Head of State are supposed to use their knowledge and individual capacity to execute the job and meet expectations of appointing authority.

He said there was also the challenge of language barrier to envoys posted in countries with unfamiliar languages. “That’s where the work challenge begins. Poor understanding in the language of communication becomes a huge barrier for most of them to deliver.”

Dr Nsekela was seconded by an expert in economic diplomacy, Prof Kitojo Wetengere, who said insufficient funds disbursed for embassies lead to underperformance.

Similar reasons were given by CAG Charles Kichere in the 2021/22 audit reports, revealing that less than approved was disbursed by the country in the year of review for operation of Tanzania embassies abroad.

He says the government endorsed Sh144.51 billion for 43 embassy offices in the 2021/22, noting that budget execution review shows that only Sh128.61 billion was released during the said fiscal year.

According to him, the amount was equal to 89 percent of approved funds with Sh15.9 billion unremitted which is equal to 11 percent of approved budget.

The CAG says insufficient remittance could adversely impact implementation of functions carried by Tanzania embassies abroad, therefore affecting their general efficiencies.

“Bearing in mind that embassies largely depend on funds from the central government, insufficient remittance affects the embassy’s efforts to promote country interests abroad,” he said.

“I propose that the government should increase efforts in efficiently implementing endorsed budgets in order to ensure that there is enough distribution of funds for execution of planned programs,” he said.

The National chairman of business community association chairman Hamis Livembe said they believe in the Head of State, noting that the new envoy to China would do better as his predecessor.

“We expect him to promote good relations between China and Tanzania traders. He should give traders appropriate directives about reliable people to collaborate in transportation of cargo, instead of unscrupulous agents and companies that have been conning foreign businessmen,” he said.