POLITICAL leaders and other public officials need to uphold ethics, good governance and fact-based decision-making as misinformation and decisions made on prejudice can have dire consequences, a visiting dignitary has cautioned.

Suzanne Innes-Stubb, the Finland first lady, made this observation at the 8th graduation ceremony for Uongozi Institute in Dar es Salaam yesterday, where more than 200 officials were awarded certificates, diplomas and postgraduate diplomas in leadership.

Ethical leadership anchored in truth, integrity and responsibility, critical to development efforts, she said, underlining that leaders must ensure that decisions do not hurt the people being served.

Asking those graduating to contribute meaningfully to Tanzania’s development, she applauded Uongozi Institute efforts in promoting women’s leadership, as a bold step toward inclusive development.

George Simbachawene, the Public Service Management and Good Governance, state minister in the President’s Office, pointed at the need for reforming the vetting process for chief executives, as many competent leaders are undermined by internal workplace disputes.

“Experience has shown that performance alone is not enough. Leaders must also be equipped to manage relationships and navigate institutional challenges,” he stated.

Leaders need to coordinate project implementation more effectively, ensuring the responsible use of financial and human resources to drive national development, he emphasized.

“The government is investing heavily in development projects to improve citizens' lives. It is our duty to ensure those investments yield real impact,” he further noted.

Christine Grau, the resident European Union envoy, emphasised inclusive leadership and diversity in achieving sustainable progress.

“The best-performing teams are those built on diversity. It is time to fully embrace collaboration and inclusivity to attain development goals,” she pointed out.

Juhana Lehtinen, the head of cooperation at the Finnish Embassy, hailed the institute as a symbol of long-standing collaboration with Finland, reaffirming the country’s commitment to supporting the institute’s mission.

The institute stands as a testament to visionary leadership, she said, priding in its achievements and looking forward to deepening the partnership.

The event featured long-term executive programmes in Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership (PGD), Certificate in Leadership (CiL), and the Women’s Leadership Programme (WLP).

Kadari Singo, the CEO, said that over 200 leaders from across Africa, representing government, business, civil society and academia have completed the training.

“The programmes aim to cultivate leadership competencies across organisational domains. The response has been phenomenal,” he affirmed, while Zanzibar Chief Secretary Zena Ahmed Said urged the graduating leaders to put their newly acquired skills to work and inspire others in their spheres of influence. “Leadership is about impact. Let us use our knowledge and position to make a real difference,” she added.