Who recruits for Zanzibar public service jobs: SMZ, SMT and ZanAjira

Two governments, two routes

An advert for a public job in Zanzibar comes from one of two governments:

• SMZ, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar: Zanzibar ministries, departments and agencies. These posts are recruited by the Civil Service Commission (Tume ya Utumishi Serikalini) and applied for on the ZanAjira portal.
• SMT, the Government of the United Republic: Union ministries and public bodies. These posts are recruited by the Public Service Recruitment Secretariat (PSRS) and applied for on the national Ajira portal.

The ZanAjira website carries both. Union adverts are marked SMT, and they still go through the Ajira portal.

The Civil Service Commission

The Commission says it has been an independent institution since 1986, under the Civil Service Commission Act No. 14 of 1986 and the Zanzibar Constitution of 1984, and that it now works under the Public Service Act No. 2 of 2011. Its stated role is to recruit people to public office on merit and qualifications and to oversee the recruitment process. It sits under the President's Office, Constitution, Legal Affairs, Public Service and Good Governance.

Do not confuse it with the Zanzibar Public Service Commission (Kamisheni ya Utumishi wa Umma), a separate body that also appears in adverts as an employer. In June 2026, for example, the Civil Service Commission advertised two Assistant Records Officer posts at the Zanzibar Public Service Commission.

Who may apply for SMZ posts

Each advert sets its own conditions, so read it first. The adverts we read in June and October 2026 asked for:

• a Zanzibari applicant (Awe Mzanzibari);
• age not above 46;
• a qualification from an institution recognised by the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.

They accepted applications only electronically through ZanAjira, for about two weeks, and rejected applications with only a progressive report or statement of results. The ZanAjira profile also needs your ZanID number. How to apply on ZanAjira.

Who may apply for Union posts

Union posts follow the PSRS general conditions, which are printed at the end of each advert. In the TANESCO advert of 13 October 2026, republished on ZanAjira, they included citizenship of the United Republic, a maximum age of 45 (lower for paramilitary institutions), certified copies of certificates and transcripts, three referees, and recognition of foreign certificates by TCU, NECTA or NACTVET. People already employed in the public service may not apply, and Form IV and VI result slips are not accepted. Applications went only through portal.ajira.go.tz, with a deadline of 26 October 2026. Ajira portal checklist.

Salary codes in Zanzibar adverts

SMZ adverts print a salary scale code, not a cash amount. The Assistant Records Officer Grade III advert used ZPSG-02, and the engineer posts at the Ministry of Finance and Planning used ZPSI-01. The code places the post on the Zanzibar government salary structure; the amount comes from that structure and from your appointment letter. The ministry responsible for the public service lists a salary calculator among its staff services. Zanzibar government pay explains what we can and cannot confirm.

Where to look every week

Check the vacancy announcements on zanajira.go.tz for SMZ posts and the SMT adverts republished there. Work.tz collects the open roles in Zanzibar and the government jobs across Tanzania, each with a link to the official advert.

Never pay for a public job

The Commission has warned that fraudsters phone applicants and ask for money for a job. No government job is given in exchange for money. Report such calls to ZAECA on 113 or 0774 824242.

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