Tanzania youth urged to embrace technology, not fearing robots
What you need to know:
- The discussion underscored a prevailing anxiety about the future job market and the potential for robots to displace human workers.
Dodoma. The Information and Communication Technology Commission (ICTC) has assured students that robots will not replace human workers entirely.
However, there is a need to adapt and develop new skills to stay relevant in a technology-driven future.
Speaking to students at the University of Dodoma (UDOM) yesterday, the ICTC’s director general, Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, highlighted that robots are an integral part of global technological advancement and rely on human intelligence for programming and operation.
“There is no need to fear because human capability remains unchanged. No robots in the world have reached 100 percent of human capability, nor can they, as they are being controlled and programmed by humans,” Dr Mwasaga assured the students.
Dr Mwasaga and his ICTC team’s visit to UDOM, which included a demonstration with a sample robot (Eunice), sparked an intense debate among students, particularly those from the College of Informatics and Virtual Education.
The discussion underscored a prevailing anxiety about the future job market and the potential for robots to displace human workers.
One concerned student said: “Tanzania now seems to have started to create these robots. What about our jobs when the employment situation is already in crisis? What is the point of studying if my job can be done by a robot?” Another student, Ms Winfrida Joseph, called for strategic action to equip students with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven job market. “This is not the time to study things that can be done by robots. Right now, we are worried about our education,” she explained.
Dr Mwasaga responded by emphasising the importance of adaptability and continuous learning. He urged students to develop a willingness to learn various emerging ICT software to stay ahead of technological revolutions.
“These technologies are inevitable, and that is why, as a government, we strive to ensure they are beneficial for the growth of our digital economy and the lives of Tanzanians in general,” he stated.
Sahara Ventures executive director, Jumanne Mtambalike, weighed in on the issue in a LinkedIn post, noting that the real threat to jobs is not robots but software.
“We need to train youths to understand who is a future employee,” Mr Mtambalike said. He referenced a comment by Tanzanian lawmaker Jumanne Kishimba, who humorously questioned the value of studying procurement for three years when a computer could perform such tasks more efficiently and reliably.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) estimates that roughly 10–12 million youths enter the job market annually in Africa, but the continent can only absorb about 3.1 million of them.
This significant gap leaves millions of young people unemployed. A survey by African Economic Outlook revealed that 54 percent of experts from 36 African countries identified a mismatch between the skills job seekers possess and what employers require as a major obstacle. This skills mismatch is expected to widen with the increasing adoption of digital tools and solutions in the workplace.
Mr Mtambalike emphasised, “The only way out is to find ways to massively reskill the youth to catch up with the needs of the job market.” Despite the challenges, there is optimism about Tanzania’s efforts to address digital transformation and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) issues.
The government has implemented and is implementing various policies and strategic initiatives to prepare for these changes.
UDOM’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics, Research, and Consultancy, Prof Razack Lokina, expressed confidence in the government’s direction in an interview with The Citizen.
“We have seen what our government is doing to ensure that, as a nation, we are ready for these changes. The best thing is that we are not lagging way behind,” he said.
“And we, as a university, have already started encouraging our youth in this direction and also introducing new courses and programmes for this journey,” Prof Lokina added.
In Tanzania, institutions such as UDOM and the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology are pioneering programmes in robotics science aimed at spurring technological development in the country.
These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to equip youth with the necessary skills to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
As the conversation around robotics and employment continues, experts note that it is clear that the focus must shift from fear to empowerment.
“By embracing technological advancements and investing in re-skilling, we can ensure our youth are prepared to navigate and excel in the digital economy,” said Prof Lokina.
As such, Dr Mwasaga noted, “This is the task that we want to encourage our learning institutions to embrace and help with, as in the navigation.”
