Strengthening Leadership Pipelines: A Critical Review of Succession Planning in Tanzania’s Public Service (2015–2025)

Abstract

This paper analyses the status, challenges, and outcomes of succession planning in Tanzania’s public service. Guided by human capital and institutional theories, the present study systematically analysed 42 documents published between 2015 and 2025 using a documentary review methodology. The documents were retrieved and selected from multiple credible sources, including Scopus, Google Scholar, CrossRef, institutional repositories, government policy papers, audit reports, and official publications. A thematic coding approach was applied to identify progress, challenges, and outcomes of succession planning initiatives. Findings reveal persistent weaknesses, including poor implementation, policy inconsistency, weak institutional frameworks, and gender disparities in leadership pipelines. The study concludes that while succession planning is widely recognised in official rhetoric, its operationalisation remains inadequate. To strengthen leadership continuity and service delivery, the study recommends developing a national succession planning policy that integrates it with strategic human resource management frameworks and establishing robust monitoring and evaluation systems.