Africa-Press – Tanzania. MINISTER for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Nape Nnauye has directed setting of residential addresses and postcodes allocation exercises be completed by May this year.
Mr Nnauye made the directive on Monday when opening a virtual training, which involved regional commissioners and heads of institutions under the ministry.
“Earlier the government planned to ensure that come 2025 all residences have the postcode address countrywide but after conducting thorough analysis, the government has now ruled that the exercise be completed by May this year.
Mr Nape said the postcode services are key and pillar for socio-economic development as they make it easier for public engagement in a number of activities and locations to be known with ease.
“It is important that we fast track the exercise due to its importance in the nation’s economy and that the government wants to see the exercise is accomplished within the shortest time possible,” he said.
The minister said that Tanzania has already attained lower middle income status, a move which demands speeding up of economic activities through the use of digital technology.
He said the world is now in a digital economy, where the majority of business deals and transactions are online- thus home delivery is of paramount importance.
Minister Nape added that the postcode services will save time for the public to go and shop as they can order for goods and services online and have them delivered on time.
“With the allocation of postcodes and residential addresses, people will easily reach their destinations at simplified time and means. Also, goods and service will be delivered at minimal inconveniences; this is why President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed us to quicken the process,” he said.
Mr Nape also praised Kigamboni and Temeke districts in Dar es Salaam Region for speeding up the preparation of naming street and houses, calling for other local government authorities to emulate the same.
Equally, he directed the authorities to engage cell and street leaders as well as 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.
Welcoming the minister, the Permanent Secretary in the same docket Dr Jim Yonazi, said the ministry will work vigorously to ensure all residences have the postcode address countrywide by May this year.
To fast track the process and complete it within set timeframe, Dr Yonazi informed Mr Nape that the government has put together three ministries including the Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development and Ministry of Regional Administration and Local Government in the postcode address services.
He said the residential address will be useful not only to local businesses but also tourists and therefore, boosting the recreational activities.
Dr Yonazi also said the exercise of addressing streets and residential houses will bring the government closer to citizens, especially in delivering social services and simplify the census exercise slated for August this year.
For his part, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Mr Amos Makala, promised to supervise the process so that it can be completed in time.
“Dar es Salaam is the country’s largest city and we want to set a good example in implementing the physical addresses before the scheduled time so as to promote trade through simplification of mobility of people and goods,” Makala said.
The virtual conference was organised by the TTCL Corporation and apart from regional and district government, it was attended by representative from Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and Tanzania Posts Corporation.
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