DEPUTY Prime Minister and Energy Minister Dr Doto Biteko has urged government employees to foster unity, cooperation and innovation to improve public service delivery, particularly in the areas of electricity, fuel and clean cooking.

Dr Biteko made the appeal on Monday when he met with management of the Ministry of Energy and its affiliated institutions. This was the second session since the introduction of a new self-assessment system designed to evaluate service delivery within the ministry and its agencies.

“Let us remember that President Samia Suluhu Hassan has consistently emphasized the need for innovation within the ministry and its institutions to ensure reliable services for citizens. High-quality services cannot be achieved without unity and cooperation within government institutions,” he said.

Dr Biteko urged staff to work diligently and professionally, keeping in mind the ordinary Tanzanians who rely on government initiatives to improve their lives.

He highlighted the energy sector as the backbone of the national economy, noting that disruptions in the sector can adversely affect various aspects of life and economic stability.

He emphasized that employees should prioritise impactful work results over job security, reminding them that positions are temporary.

He further stressed the importance of establishing performance evaluation criteria for assessing progress of the energy sector in Tanzania.

“All employees should focus more on actions than words, building a strong institution rather than promoting individual strengths, and strengthening the energy sector to better serve citizens,” he said.

During the meeting, a performance review of institutions under the ministry was presented, covering three months ending September 2024. The Rural Energy Agency (REA) ranked highest, followed by the Petroleum Bulk Procurement Agency (PBPA).

The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) report indicated that Singida, Kinondoni North and Manyara regions excelled in delivering quality services to the public.

Award recipients from the performance evaluation received letters of commendation, while those which did not meet the 80 percent threshold were encouraged to improve.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Felchesmi Mramba noted that the meeting was meant to evaluate the energy sector’s performance.

Participating institutions were TANESCO, REA, PBPA, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC), Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA), Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) and Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC).