Biteko urges private sector to help bridge digital divide

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian government is calling upon the private sector to play a more active role in bridging the country’s digital divide.

This is a crucial step towards achieving Tanzania’s vision of a digital economy.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Doto Biteko said this as he graced the launch of the DigiTruck initiative, a project jointly spearheaded by Huawei and Vodacom Tanzania to bring digital skills to underserved communities across Tanzania.

“The private sector should contribute to the development of the digital space and bridge the digital gap in Tanzania, and the government is open to collaborating,” he said.

According to the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), by the end of June 2024, only 39.3 million Tanzanians will have access to internet services, which is 64.43 percent of the total population of 61 million.

The DigiTruck initiative, which was unveiled at the event, is a mobile classroom designed to provide digital education to remote areas that lack adequate educational facilities.

Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology Mr Jerry Silaa lauded the initiative, describing it as more than just a mobile classroom but as a vehicle of hope, opportunity, and transformation for many Tanzanians.

“Your efforts to make the digital age accessible to everyone deserve praise, and I am confident that this programme will have a lasting impact on our journey towards a digital Tanzania,” he said.

The Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Chen Mingjian, highlighted the significance of the DigiTruck project as a symbol of the strong ties between China and Tanzania.

“This is an important step towards digital inclusion; the project is not only a key initiative to continuously deepen the friendship and trust between the peoples of the two countries but also a practical cooperation of promoting digital inclusion and sustainable development in the digital technologies domain to realise the vision of Tanzania’s digital transformation,” she said.

According to the envoy, the Chinese Government will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to cooperate with Tanzania in the ICT domain to close the digital gap and realise the vision of digital inclusion.

Huawei managing director, Mr Damon Zhang, expressed his excitement about the initiative’s potential impact on Tanzania’s digital future.

 “The truck will soon travel to remote areas that are short of sufficient educational facilities and meet with the kids and youngsters there.

I sincerely believe that the initiative of DigiTruck will serve its purpose of closing the digital gap,” he said.

“Developing the digital economy is Tanzania’s national strategy, whereby the digital skills of the next generation are the foundation.

I’m excited to extend the cooperation between Vodacom and Huawei from the business level to fulfil corporate social responsibility jointly,” said Mr Zhang.

He added that the mobile classroom will travel across the country over the next two years, bringing digital skills to underserved communities. regardless of their physical location.

“We are glad to go beyond connectivity with you and your organisation,” Mr Zhang said.