AfricaPress-Tanzania: OFFICIALS in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology are meeting to approve a new structure for the newly formed ministry believed could help boost information and communications technology (ICT) as engine of social and economic growth.
The ministry formally under the Work, Transport and Communications docket seeks to fully exploit ICT to add value to the economy.
Deputy Minister for Communications and Information Technology Kundo Mathew said when launching the meeting of the workers’ council that information and technologies had become the engine of social and economic growth globally.
“We expect the council meeting today to help the ministry to realise its target to increase the contribution of ICT to the GDP,” he said.
The deputy minister acknowledged that the review of the ministry’s structure should be in line with the bold expectation of the people and the nation.
In this regard, he said the ministry would need cooperation from both the management and the staff.
He told the meeting that the government had already made headway in setting up infrastructures, including establishing six major points of presence (PoP) in Tukuyu, Kibaha, Kahama, Ifakara, Kidatu and Mafinga to support the national broadband network.
Mr Mathew explained that the Universal Communication Services Access Fund (UCSAF) had spent over 118bn/- to improve connectivity to about 94 per cent of the entire country.
“Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) is also registering SIM cards with biometric technology and this helps to increase safety among mobile phone users,” he said.
The deputy minister noted that the government was committed to improving postal code services and area identification to boost the digital economy.
According to the plan every household, structure and building in the country will be identified to accelerate the contribution of ICT as an engine of the country’s social and economic growth.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Zainab Chaula, said the workers’ council was an important unit in the executive, charged with coordinating the management and employees.
She said the council was the chief adviser on government proposals and played an important role in ensuring efficient implementation of its plans.
