Africa-Press – Tanzania. ZANZIBAR government has officially introduced the use of a national addressing system, a move, which is expected to enhance economic growth, strengthen public safety and expand access to essential services.
Speaking during the launching, Zanzibar Second Vice-President, Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, said the system will help citizens to locate and access key facilities including health centres, markets, shops and other services.
He explained that the event also marked the start of issuing digital residential identification letters, which will allow citizens to be reached wherever they are.
“This system is a milestone for service delivery and will greatly simplify how people access government and social services,” he said, urging both citizens and visitors to embrace the new initiative. Mr Abdulla further called on the public to protect road name signposts installed by the government, warning against vandalism which had previously been reported in some areas.
He directed the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Special Departments to ensure effective supervision of the system, including continued registration, verification and updating of residential address information by local leaders such as ward officers and shehas.
Mr Abdulla also called for capacity building training to all officials managing the system. He ordered ZANROAD and local government authorities to ensure the addressing system infrastructure are in place for smooth implementation of the project.
Zanzibar’s Minister for Infrastructure, Communication and Transport, Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed said so far Zanzibar has registered 450,124 residential addresses.
On his part, Union Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Mr Jerry William Silaa underscored the role of residential data in planning and service delivery.
He explained that addressing system serves a variety of purposes, including the delivery of goods to homes and supporting student loan applications.
“As we build a digital economy, an effective addressing system is essential for ensuring access to information and services,” he said.
Mr Silaa added that President Samia Suluhu Hassan has allocated sufficient funding for the initiative and more than 21,000 grassroots coordination officers, among them 388 sheha in Zanzibar, will receive training and be equipped with computer tablets for smooth implementation of the programme.
Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Special Departments) Massoud Ali Mohammed said the addressing system is a crucial part of residential identification.
He affirmed that, as the government continues to expand digital service delivery, all involved officers will receive comprehensive training to ensure they can effectively support the implementation of the programme.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport, Dr Habiba Hassan Omar, said the sheha are being equipped with computers to assist them in issuing digital address letters to citizens.
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