Management Of Museums And Historical Sites – CAG Report

Tanzania has seven national museums with collections of relics for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Museums have varying aims, ranging from serving researchers and specialists to serving the general public. Also, Tanzania has a total of 131 gazetted cultural heritage sites. Out of the 131 cultural heritage sites that have been gazetted in Tanzania only four1 are listed in the world heritage list. Worldwide, cultural heritage sites provide insights into the past and help the people to learn about the human history.

Africa is both fortunate and unfortunate as far as cultural heritage resources are concerned. The continent is fortunate for being a home to a variety of heritage assets informative of the origin and development of our humanity. In the meantime, it is unfortunate that Africa does not take care of such vast cultural treasures.

The main audit objective was to assess whether the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the National Museum of Tanzania have adequately managed Museums and Cultural Heritage Sites to ensure long-term survival and enhance Tanzania’s culture and natural heritage.

Focus of the audit was on assessing mechanisms in place for the identification and acquisition of cultural heritage objects; adherence to criteria set for the establishment of museums as well as the identification and subsequent declaration of heritage sites; sustainability of preservation and conservation measures of heritage assets; sufficiency of resource to take care and develop museums and heritage sites; and adequacy of monitoring and follow-up mechanisms in managing Museums and Heritage Sites.