Africa-Press – Tanzania. MINISTER for Information, Communication and Information technology, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, has directed all local government authorities to ensure that postcode services available to all.
She gave the directives to all local government authorities to participate fully and ensure that all wards have postcode address services.
She said only three per cent, which is about 135 out of all 4,067 wards; currently have postcode addresses noting that those statistics were recorded by the end of this month.
“It is our obligation to be agents for change and I am sure we are going to engage fully and make the postcode services available to all” she insisted.
She made the directive yesterday when officiating the seminar to raise awareness on the need to use postcode addresses in local government authorities.
The Minister said the government has injected 45bn/- for coordination and monitoring of setting up of the postcode address services.
Moreover, she said, the Regional Administration and Local government ministry as well has been availed with 100bn/- to facilitate the local governments to travel for implementation of the postcode address services.
Dr Kijaji said they will only work together with those who are committed and are ready to cope with the government pace.
To fast track the process the government has put together three ministries including the lands, housing and human settlement development in the postcode address services.
Dr Kijaji said the postcode services are key and pillar to socio-economic development as they make it easier for public engagement in a number of activities and located at the best address.
She said the world is now in a digital economy whereas the majority of business deals and transactions are online thus home delivery is of paramount importance.
She added that the postcode services will save time for the public to go and shop as they can order online and have their goods delivered on time.
He directed them to engage cell, streets and councillors so that they all speak the same language and have a common goal of making postcode address services a success as the country is coping with the digital economy era.
On her part, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Zainab Chaula, said they have plan to ensure that come 2025 all residences have the postcode address countrywide.
She said despite budget allocation to every council, the exercise has not been moving as estimated, praising Mwanza City Council for doing the best in the postcode address.
On his part, Permanent Secretary, Regional Administration and Local government, Prof Riziki Shemdoe, said they have prepared bylaws which will be used by the councils in the implementation of the whole process.
