Tanzania consolidates status as East Africa's digital hub

The East African Business Council (EABC), an apex body of private sector associations, has attributed this to supportive government policies.

The Tanzania government has not only encouraged investments in the digital economy but ensured protection against cyber attacks.

“Tanzania currently ranks among the nations with robust digital connectivity in East Africa,” said Mr Zephania Shaidi, a business development officer with the EABC.

He said during a cybersecurity workshop held in Dar es Salaam that mobile phone subscriptions in Tanzania have surpassed the number of adult citizens.

According to him, mobile internet access in the country has reached nearly 46 percent of the 42 million mobile phone users.

However, Mr Shaidi said with the rapid proliferation of technology, the scope of cyber threats has widened, affecting individuals and businesses alike.

Small business owners in Tanzania, in particular, have to grapple with the challenges of safeguarding their vital online information due to a lack of knowledge and resources.

The workshop was designed to equip business owners with the skills needed to secure their information, defend against financial losses, and combat gender-based vulnerabilities.

The program aimed to address the pressing need for heightened cybersecurity awareness, particularly among women and youth entrepreneurs.

It was organised by the EABC with the support of the German aid agency, GIZ, under the latter’s EAC-GIZ through the dSkills@EA project and Serensic Africa.

The Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), and the East African Women in Business Platform (EAWiBP) were also roped in.

The workshop brought together government officials, private sector representatives and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) leaders.

They all concurred on the need for heightened cybersecurity awareness in order to safeguard the digital technologies against hackers.

The Director General of Tanzania ICT Commission, Dr Moses Mukudwe, emphasized the importance of leveraging government infrastructure for innovation among Tanzanian youth to stimulate digital economic growth.

EABC executive director John Bosco Kalisa stressed the necessity of government support to combat cybersecurity threats that affect SMEs, women, and youth, emphasizing that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility.

Other speakers acknowledged that vigilance against cybercrime was an ongoing process requiring adaptation to new threats.

Ms Lilian Akot from GIZ EAC reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the digital skills of SMEs, young women, and youth to enhance their employability and competitiveness.

The Tanzania government was called upon to foster innovation among youth and women, thus mitigating cyber threats.