Tanzania Grants Five More Mobile Licenses.....

Tanzania's Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has given mobile network operating licenses to five more companies, bringing the tally for the country to twelve. The country now has one of the highest ratios of licenses to potential customers in the world, although with a population penetration level of just 43%, there is space for new companies to grow. The five new entrants are MyCell, Egotel, Rural Netco, Smile and ExcellentCom.

"They are expected to enter the country's communication industry when the process to give them network facility licensees is completed," TCRA director-general John Nkoma told The Citizen newspaper.

"There is an indication that the telecommunication industry is profitable and that's why more companies are entering the market," Mzumbe University economics lecturer Honest Ngowi told BusinessWeek. According to him, the trend is positive but it will reduce tariffs.

The country has seven licensed companies, only three have a sizeable customer base: South Africa listed Vodacom, Kuwait listed Zain and US listed Millicom (Tigo) - while a fourth local operator, Zanzibar Telecom operates only in Zanzibar island. According to the Mobile World analysts, the country has around 17.1 million mobile phone users, representing a population penetration level of 42.9%.

The government passed a controversial law earlier this year that will require any mobile network operating in the country will have to list their shares on the local stock exchange. The companies will have up to three years to list their shares on the stock exchange.

Jambiani

Picha inajieleza yenyewe!

Siku ya Maji Duniani: Zanzibar na mfumo mpya wa huduma ya maji.

Siku ya Maji Duniani: Zanzibar na mfumo mpya wa huduma ya maji

Kwa miaka mingi tumekuwa tukishuhudia ama kushiriki katika miradi kadhaa inayoanzishwa kwa lengo la kusukuma mbele maendeleo ya huduma kwa wananchi.

Hata hivyo miradi mingi imekuwa ikifa kabla ya kukamilisha malengo yake yaliyokusudiwa. Hali hii ilifanya kuwepo na tafiti mbalimbali kujua ni kwa nini miradi hiyo imekufa huku mingine ikiwa imegharimiwa kwa gharama kubwa sana.

Tafiti mbalimbali zilionyesha kuwa miradi hufa kutokana na kutokuwepo na ushirikiano wa dhati kati ya wenye wazo la mradi na wale ambao watanufaika na mradi huo tokea mwanzo wa maandalizi ya mradi hadi ukamilishaji wake. Kutokuwepo kwa ushirikiano ama uhusishwaji wa jamii husika katika miradi hiyo kulielezwa kuchangia kufa ama kuzorota kwa miradi mingi.

Nimeshawahi kuzungumzia jinsi ya kuondokana na kadhia hii katika baadhi ya mabandiko yangu yaliyopita. Aidha kwa leo nitaendelea kuangalia hatua moja kubwa na muhimu iliyofikiwa katika kusimamia miradi inayoanzishwa. Hatua hii ni kwa wananchi kupewa uwezo wa moja kwa moja wa kutoa taarifa juu ya uendelevu wa mradi husika kwa asasi husika.

Mapema mwaka huu, Shirika la Umoja wa Kimataifa la Maakazi UN-HABITAT, Google, Zantel, ADB na ZAWA, walianzisha huduma ya kuwashirikisha wananchi kutoa taarifa kutokana na huduma ya maji wanayopata. Hii ni hatua moja muhimu sana katika kuona uendelevu wa huduma hiyo muhimu.

Leo hii wakati dunia nzima wakisherehekea siku ya maji, kuna vituo vipya hamsini vya maji vilivyojengwa katika maeneo ya shule, zahanati na sehemu nyingine muhimu za kijamii katika kisiwa cha Unguja, ambavyo vinasimamiwa na wananchi wenyewe. Wananchi wa maeneo hayo wananwajibika kutoa taarifa za upatikanaji wa maji, ubovu wa mabomba na matatizo mengine yoyote yanayoendana na huduma hiyo kwa kutumia njia ya simu.

Katika dunia hii ambayo kuna zaidi ya watu bilioni 2 ambao hadi sasa bado wanaendelea kusubiri kupata huduma ya maji, hii mimi ninaona ni hatua muhimu sana ya kuwawezesha wananchi kuona mradi huo kama ni sehemu ya maisha yao. Utoaji wa taarifa kwa huduma hiyo ni sawa na kukabidhi moja moja usimazi wa huduma hiyo kwa wananchi hao. Hii itawapa changamoto kubwa katika kuhifadhi na kuendeleva huduma hiyo. Zaidi hatua zingine zilizoanzishwa sambamba na mradi huu zinapaswa kufahamishwa kwa wananchi wa maeneo husika sambamba na kuwashirikisha ili kuwepo na uendelevu wa miradi hiyo.

Hapana shaka lengo lililokusudiwa la kuwezesha wananchi kulinda na kusimamia huduma hiyo litafanikiwa, kwa asasi husika kutekeleza taarifa wanazopokea juu ya uendelevu wa huduma hiyo.

Just back from: Tanzania

Just back from: Tanzania: "Paul Padia and Alexandra Echery, San Francisco

We went because: We were celebrating 40 years on Earth, and I guess we had something to prove by trying to climb Kilimanjaro. We met with success.

Don't miss: Climbing to the top. It's not as hard as you think because you climb so slowly.

Don't bother: Stone Town, Zanzibar. It holds a lot of history, but it's crowded and there are safety concerns. Head to the east side of the island for the beach.

Coolest souvenir: The certificate for making it to the top of Kilimanjaro. Also, Organic Coffee from Gibbs Farm (Karatu, Tanzania) is still being enjoyed.

Worth a splurge: Ponge Beach Resort, Zanzibar, on the east side of the island. It was the perfect complement after the climb and safari.

We wish we'd packed: Less. We had weight restrictions on internal flights that made it difficult to bring back souvenirs.

Other comments: No trip to Africa is complete without a safari. Plan your safari in the conservation area where the big migration is taking place during your visit."