THE Tanzania Public Service College (TPSC) has been urged to conduct research that will help address various challenges facing the public service sector in the country.

George Simbachawene, Minister of State in the President's Office – Public Service Management and Good Governance, made the call in Mbeya recently when speaking at the 40th graduation ceremony, where 6,516 graduates completed their studies in various disciplines.

During the ceremony, Simbachawene launched two research studies aimed at improving efficiency in public service operations. 
 “I have launched these studies, which will help address the challenges facing the public service sector in the country. Congratulations to you all,” said the Minister.

He emphasized that research is essential for making informed decisions, as without it, there is no solid basis for discussions, stressing that the college has earned respect for its commitment to research.

He noted that the research aligns with President Samia Suluhu Hassan's directives on the importance of research for societal and national development, urging public institutions employing new staff to ensure they send these employees to TPSC for the Initial Orientation Course to equip them with knowledge of laws, regulations, procedures, and ethics governing public service.

Simbachawene highlighted that there have been conflicts between government leaders, particularly presidential appointees, in executing their duties. He expressed hope that the research findings would provide solutions to these challenges, ensuring peace and stability in workplaces.

Dr. Florens Turuka, Chairperson of the TPSC Advisory Board, noted: “These two studies you have just launched are part of applied research conducted by the college using internal funds. The research focuses on identifying challenges in public service and advising the government on improving these areas to address the identified challenges.”

He elaborated that during the 2023/2024 fiscal year, TPSC conducted the two studies, completed in the first quarter of the 2024/2025 fiscal year. These include research on the implementation of the Initial Orientation Course in public institutions under the Central Government and its agencies.

Dr. Turuka explained that the study focused on three key areas: awareness among public institutions about the existing guidelines for Initial Orientation Courses, adherence to these guidelines, and the effectiveness of the guidelines in ensuring proper implementation.

The research covered 83 public institutions across regions such as Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Morogoro, Lindi, and Mtwara.

He highlighted critical findings, including a lack of awareness among human resource officers about the existing guidelines. While 99% claimed to be generally aware of the guidelines, only 65% demonstrated adequate knowledge of specific details.

Additionally, the research found poor adherence to guidelines in implementing the courses. For instance, 70% of employees had not received orientation, even long after their employment began. For those who did, the procedures were often not fully followed, including delays in providing training and training conducted by unauthorized institutions.

The research also noted a lack of mechanisms to enforce compliance with guidelines, with institutions like the Public Service Commission and the Controller and Auditor General’s Office confirming recurring issues.

According to him, the second study examined causes and solutions to conflicts among presidential appointees in local government authorities (LGAs), whereby the study identified four main areas contributing to conflicts including division of powers and existing laws governing LGAs, resource allocation, lack of leadership skills and experience and individual behaviors of leaders.

The research also revealed issues such as insufficient operational funds for District Commissioners (DCs), leading to dependency on District Executive Directors (DEDs), and inadequate communication about development projects.

Furthermore, personal attitudes such as lack of patriotism (26%), arrogance (20%), and greed (10%) were found to exacerbate conflicts.

Participants also recommended that enhancing awareness of guidelines among HR officers and institution heads, making the Initial Orientation Course mandatory for job confirmation, allocating sufficient resources for training and ensuring that appointments in LGAs consider public service experience.

Dr. Ernest Mabonesho, TPSC Principal and CEO, reaffirmed the college's dedication to applied research, advisory services, and capacity building. He announced plans to conduct six applied research studies in the 2024/2025 fiscal year, with two already in the data collection phase.