ARUSHA (Tanzania), Sept 18 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — The government is keen on rolling out policies that will facilitate the establishment of smart cities in Tanzania. To start with, the government insisted that it had earmarked capital Dodoma as a potential smart city.
Fielding questions from reporters here, Deputy Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Kundo Mathew said it was high time the country turned to smart cities to enhance citizen and government engagement.
“We want, as a country to embrace a cashless economy and this is only possible through smart cities,” the Deputy Minister explained.
Engineer Mathew, who was speaking on the sidelines of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) T SG 20 meeting, said the government will continue reviewing policies to accommodate Internet of Things (IOT). According to the Deputy Minister, other regions will also get featured in the smart cities arrangement.
A smart city is a technologically modern urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect specific data. Information gained from that data is used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently; in return, that data is used to improve operations across the city.
One of the main benefits of smart Cities is that their technology can help them operate more efficiently, improving the services they offer for citizens and businesses. They also harness information and communication technologies to improve the service they provide, the wellbeing of citizens, sustainability and economic development while also creating safer communities and improved urban transportation.
On his part, Dodoma City Mayor Professor Davis Mwamfupe thanked the government for prioritising the county’s capital in Smart cities initiative. He assured the Deputy Minister that Dodoma city was ready to embrace the arrangement. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
