AfricaPress-Tanzania: COMMUNICATIONS and Technology minister Dr Faustine Ndugulile has made familiarisation visit of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities at Wete, Machomane, Micheweni and Chonza in Pemba that are among ten such facilities built by Universal Communications Service-
-Access Fund (UCSAF) at a cost of 1.13bn/- in the Isles for provision of ICT services.
Dr Ndugulile said there are areas that are Union matters hence his visit was to inspect and understand various activities that are considered to be Union matters, and among them are the ten UCSAF built ICT facilities, four in Pemba and six in Unguja.
“We have seen the ICT facilities, they have computers that do not operate, hence I ask institutions to look into that, as there is no point for UCSAF to build a facility and install equipment but without Internet service while TTCL could have ensured the availability of Internet services,” he said.
He stressed that communication institutions should look into the services that could be installed at the facilities to enable them provide appropriate services rather than leaving the task to the Zanzibar government.
For his part, Zanzibar’s Works, Communications and Transport minister Amour Bakari said there would be an emergency plan to ensure the facilities start operating within one week and later there would be a strategy for their sustainability.
He said they discussed with TTCL on payment procedures to ensure the Corporation install Internet services at the facilities.
Communications and Technology Permanent Secretary Dr Zainab Chaula said the ministry was a Union ministry and they came to the Isles for joint sittings of the two ministries to look into existing achievements and challenges that could be jointly solved.
For his part, Mkoani District Commissioner said he was pleased with the visit of the Union Communications and Technology minister Dr Faustine Ndugulile to inspect the ICT facilities.
“The visit has proved that we have a robust Union in areas of joint cooperation and to ensure all deficiencies are worked upon, and that is why the visit has mentioned the time frame the facilities will start operating,” the DC said.
