Today, on September 1, 2023, the Chief Secretary of the United Republic of Tanzania, Ambassador Dr. Moses M. Kusiluka, along with the Chief Secretary and Secretary of the House of Representatives, Engineer Zena A. Saidi, held a one-day meeting with leaders from the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority  (TIRA). During the meeting, he was formally introduced and welcomed the Insurance Ambassadors and discussed the progress of the insurance sector in the country.

The Insurance Ambassadors introduced during the meeting, which took place at the Conference Hall of the Office of the Chief Secretary in Zanzibar, included Engineer Zena A. Saidi, the Chief Secretary and Secretary of the Revolutionary Council of Zanzibar, Hon. Japhet N. Hasunga, a Member of the Parliament of the United Republic, and Hon. Wanu H. Ameir, a Member of the Parliament of the United Republic.

The responsibilities of these Insurance Ambassadors, who were appointed in February 2023, include providing advice to the Authority and the insurance sector in general on the development of the insurance industry. They are also tasked with educating the public on various insurance matters at different levels, including the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania and the House of Representatives, as well as the Permanent Secretaries from the United Republic of Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Ambassador Dr. Kusiluka, while accepting the role of Insurance Ambassador, encouraged insurance companies to expand the scope of their insurance products. He also urged the Authority to continue providing education on various aspects of insurance that can be utilized by the government, private organizations, and individuals. He mentioned that the government plans to widen the range of assets it insures after conducting research on the types and costs of insuring these assets.

The meeting was also attended by Dr. Juma M. Akili, the Secretary-General of the Office of the President for Finance and Planning in Zanzibar, and Dr. Natu E. Mwamba, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance of the United Republic of Tanzania, who are key executives in the parent ministries of the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Tanzania.

In her introductory remarks, Chief Secretary and Secretary of the House of Representatives, Engineer Zena A. Saidi, stated that since the appointment of the Ambassadors in February 2023, they have already received training on the importance of insurance. This training has equipped them with the capacity to educate the public and members of parliament. The Ambassadors have been at the forefront of advising the government on the importance of insuring government assets.

Discussing achievements in the insurance sector, Insurance Commissioner Dr. Baghayo A. Saqware stated that the contribution of the insurance sector to the national income has been increasing, rising from 0.56% in 2020 to 1.68% in 2021. Furthermore, the Authority has continued to increase its dividend payments to the government, with a total of TZS 2.9 billion paid in the period from July 2022 to June 2023.

Regarding employment, the Commissioner mentioned that the insurance sector has contributed to youth employment. As of September 2022, it provided permanent employment to 4,173 Tanzanians, compared to 3,208 during the same period in 2021.

The meeting concluded with a resolution that Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority will continue to provide education to various groups, including Permanent Secretaries and Members of Parliament. It was directed that a seminar on insurance be conducted for the Permanent Secretaries of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Secretaries of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.

TIRA was also represented by Deputy Insurance Commissioner Ms. Khadija Said, Quality and Risk Control Manager Mr. Zakaria Muyengi, and Public Relations and Communications Manager Ms. Hadija Maulid.