Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE government has urged Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Alumni Association of Tanzania (JATA) to support petty traders, commonly known as ‘Machingas’ with solar power facilities to be used in new areas where they have been relocated in Morogoro region to extend their working-time.
Speaking during a one-day seminar held in the region Morogoro District Commissioner Albert Msando said most of the market areas where petty traders have been relocated lack power facilities, making it difficult for them to work during night-time.
The seminar was organised by JATA in collaboration with WASSHA, a Japanese-Tanzanian company that provides solar lantern rental and charging service using clean energy in off-grid areas through kiosks (retail stores).
“It is hard for petty traders to conduct their businesses during night-time at new premises where they have relocated. I hereby request you JATA members through WASSHA to provide them with the rental solar devices in order to extend their working time during night hours,” he said.
He further expressed his gratitude towards JICA for establishing various development projects in the region which benefit low-income residents including small entrepreneurs.
Mr Msando said the establishment of development projects with direct impacts to low-income communities is in line with the sixth phase government’s plans under the President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to improve people’s socio-economic services.
JATA members are JICA training programmes’ ex-participants both from public and from private sectors, who studied in Japan as part of the cooperation between the governments of Tanzania and Japan.
JATA Chairperson Gregory Mlay said the association implements at least six public relations activities every year in different regions under the close support of JICA.
A member of the association’s executive committee, Dr Severine Assenga said that JATA had more than 4,000 members countrywide, who in one way or another studied in Japan and other countries under JICA wings.
The association paid a visit at WASSHA business site and held the seminar recently to learn on how clean solar energy serves well the low-income earners as a service and business.
The seminar was organized to understand WASSHA’s business model and its impacts to the development of people’s livelihoods in Tanzania.
WASSHA has been providing solar power services across Tanzanian regions such as Dar es Salaam, Coast and Morogoro, under a close support from JICA since 2016.
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