Africa-Press – Tanzania. ZANZIBAR President, Dr Hussein Mwinyi has urged the youth to make good use of Information and Technology Communications (ICT) for personal and the nation’s economic gain.
He made the call on Wednesday at an event to commemorate Youth Week at the Mazaina grounds, Chato District in Geita Region. Dr Mwinyi said ICT misuse is dangerous, but when it is well used, it can facilitate to address the unemployment challenge.
“Once ICT through social media is well used for advertisement of businesses and goods, then it will certainly expand local markets’ scope as well as encouraging self-employment among the youth,”.
“Unemployment challenge can well be tamed when the youth are fully engaging themselves in self-employment and continue to be confident in whatever they are doing… this will bring remarkable development in the society,” said the President.
He said since youth are the majority users of ICT, then it was crucial for them to make better use of it by engaging in development activities.
Dr Mwinyi said ICT shouldn’t be used on facilitating cybercrime such as money laundering and forming seditious groups that distract the prevailing peace, unity and harmony.
He said that the two Tanzanian governments will continue offering loans to small enterprenuars, advising the youth to grab opportunities in various sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, livestock, transport and mining.
President Mwinyi commended creativity and technology showcased by the youth during the exhibition, a move that he said offers an opportunity for business growth.
Dr Mwinyi urged Tanzanians to have passion with locally made goods, a step that he said will help in promoting and stabilization of internal markets as well as local industries.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Policy, Parliament, Labour and Disabled, Ms Jenister Mhagama promised continuous cooperation with the minister of the similar docket in Zanzibar, so as to let both governments achieve all targeted goals concerning youth development.
Geita Regional Commissioner (RC), Rosemary Senyamule, said that through the youth week’s exhibitions that kicked-off on October 8th this year and climaxed yesterday, Tanzanians benefitted from entrepreneurship-related education, especially on how best to grab various economic opportunities.
“We also praise the cooperation shown by the two governments, especially in social services improvement, for betterment of all Tanzanians,” she said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa also called on the youth in the country to abstain from misusing Information Communication Technology (ICT) by engaging in criminal activities. Instead, he urged for better use of ICT on economic and development activities for the greater interest of individuals and the country at large.
“President Samia Suluhu Hassan instructed that the commemoration of the Youth Week and climax of the Uhuru torch race should be held in Chato District, Geita Region in honor of the contributions that the founding father of the nation, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere offered during the liberation struggles for our independence when he was a youth,”.
“ICT has a crucial role to play in building sustainable development in all aspects,” he said, noting that many youths have managed to improve their living standards through ICT.
On exploiting opportunities under ICT, Mr Majaliwa called on the youth to take advantage of the available economic empowerment funds that offer a variety of loans, especially for youth, women and people with disability.
“You can also use the available resources, including fertile land; rivers, lakes, ocean, minerals as well as technological development in engaging in productive activities,” urged Mr Majaliwa.
