Tanzania Malawi to strengthen telecom sector
ZANZIBAR: THE Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) has signed a commercial agreement with Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi Limited (ESCOM) which aims at strengthening the telecommunication sector.
The agreement was signed here on Friday between TTCL Director General Mr Peter Ulanga and ESCOM Chief Executive Officer Mr Kamkwamba Kumwenda and was witnessed by the Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology Mr Nape Nnauye, Malawi Minister for Information and Civic Education Mr Moses Kunkuyu Kalongashawa, and Zanzibar Minister for Infrastructure, Communication and Transport Dr Khalid Salum Mohammed.
Through the agreement, Tanzania will connect Malawi into its National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) that is managed by TTCL, with a view to achieve its ICT Vision at home and neighbouring countries.
Speaking at the event, Minister Nape said that the commercial agreement between Tanzania and Malawi is a result of the visit of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to Malawi recently, where the two countries agreed to work together to improve communication and business in various fields.
“Of all the visits made by President Samia recently, the Malawi one is the first visit that has yielded quick results in the country,” Mr Nnauye said, adding that NICTBB is a catalyst in bringing about major developmental reforms in various economic, commercial, social and security sectors in the East Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regions.
He informed the audience at the ceremony that the NICTBB is well placed to enable both Tanzanian and Malawi to communicate with the world more easily and simplify development activities, along with reducing communication costs.
Mr Nnauye noted that Malawi will be connected through the Kasumulo area on the border of Tanzania and Malawi in Kyela District of Mbeya region. Mr Nape directed TTCL management to ensure that the agreement made by the two presidents of Malawi (Dr Lazarus Chakwera) and Tanzania, is reflected by the commercial agreement to ensure that the services become better to the people.
“Complaints about interruptions and bad services should have no place as we have agreed to respect the agreements signed during the visit to Malawi and today’s agreement,” he emphasised.
For his part the Malawi Minister Kalongashawa, said; “these partnerships will help promote investment and business through the reform of digital communications between Malawi and other African countries.” He said that the fibre optic development will also enable Malawians living in various areas, especially in rural areas, to get the communication opportunity and open opportunities for the digital economy and expand the scope of communication in their country.
However, he noted that the cooperation will also increase the technology expertise in Malawi to be able to invest in communication technology.
For his part, the Zanzibar Minister Dr Khalid Salum Mohammed, commended the move in ICT, as the issue of communication is of great importance for the development of the world and that currently communication backs almost everything in digital change.
He said Tanzania is determined to work with other countries in achieving digital transformation because the world is moving very fast, so he praised the efforts being taken in Africa.
He commended President Samia for her visit to Malawi which has brought benefits to both countries which will improve the use of technology in SADC member countries.
