A Dissertation Submitted in Partial/Fulfillment of the Requirements for Award of
the Degree of Master of Science in Accounting and Finance (MSc A & F) of
Mzumbe University
This study intended to examine major investments portfolio that makes contribution
towards the assets growth of LAPF. Specific objectives that guided data collection were:
To establish investment choice taken by LAPF; to select optimal assets portfolio of the
LAPF in the study; and to estimate the optimal portfolio equation for a time series data
of 2005 to 2014. In conducting this study, the researcher used a case study design; he
collected and used secondary data through interviews and document analysis.
The study revealed that, there are a number of strategies and modes the Fund took in the
investment portfolio management towards assets growth which include measures like:
leadership commitment and engagement of all stakeholders, public awareness,
diversification of portfolio, good governance and risk management, allocation of
portfolio assets properly, and marketing of portfolio. It is also reported that members‟
contribution increased by an average of 34.12% for ten years, this was attributed by the
increment of the Fund‟s members. The study also revealed that, investment portfolio
contributes 80.85% of the LAPF assets growth. Finally, it was found out that there were
a number of challenges that the Fund faced in investment portfolio management, these
included: few listed companies and therefore funds are forced to invest in government
securities and real estate (investment property), government interventions, political
factors, accountability problems, poor life-cycle cost analysis, problems in budgeting
process and budget authority, and inadequate tracking of portfolio performance over its
full life cycle. The researcher recommended grouping initiatives using common
resources to leverage the knowledge and expertise; portfolio management should treat
opportunities, initiatives and projects as investments, and the Fund must incorporate
objective criteria to evaluate both existing investments and new investment proposals.