Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) Mwanza Campus has appealed to the government to grant it the defunct Mwanza Tannery to serve as a teaching factory and centre for finished leather goods.
The Campus Director, Dr Albert Mmari made the plea yesterday when Mwanza Regional Commissioner (RC), Engineer Robert Gabriel toured the institute.
Dr Mmari noted that the tannery, which is nearby the institute, has been domant for more than ten years while DIT is in serious need of such a facility.
“Teaching factory in a Leather Technology College plays same role of teaching hospital in the University of Health and Allied Sciences. The facilities provide deep and wide scope of practical learning to students, hence, produces competent graduates.”
Dr Mmari said that the campus was set to install modern buildings and other facilities, through the 37bn/- World Bank funding so as to make DIT a center of excellence in East Africa and beyond in academic and leather products manufacturing.
The campus has been coming up with various strategies to make it possible, including signing Memorandum of Understandings with some countries that have been stepping far ahead in leather technologies, such as Ethiopia, China, India and Italy, for staff and students programme exchange.
“We learn a lot through these programmes and beneficiaries do usually share what they gain abroad with their fellows here,” he said.
On the other side, DIT also advised the government to set up special mechanism for crocodiles harvest in the country due to its high value in leather products.
Head of Leather Products Department at campus, Engineer Issa Mwangosi affirmed that the products (made of crocodile skin) have large markets especially in China.
“Imagine we sell a single belt made from crocodile skin at 120,000/- in various exhibitions, with Chinese being our main customers. It really pays back, let the government put our advice in to consideration and allow the harvest,” he insisted.
Having visited all departments in campus, the RC commended the efforts, saying there was also a need to support the graduates who have invested in leather sector.
