Tech-savvy
Pascal Malimi diligently repairs a damaged machine. Photo: Courtesy
By
Adonis Byemelwa
Paschal Vicent Malimi is a key figure
at the bustling Kariakoo Market on Kongo Street in Dar es Salaam. Operating
from a compact three-room workshop on the second floor of a National Housing
Corporation (NHC) building, he expertly fixes damaged computers with a blend of
humility and steadfastness that has made him a local legend.
Despite being a mere Form-four leaver
with a certificate in hardware computer engineering from the now-defunct Kamata
Computer Training College, Malimi’s reputation precedes him.
Customers frequent his workshop to
fix their damaged computers, and everyone on the ground floor seems to know
this popular computer engineer. Paschal proudly recounts the thrilling history
of his journey, reflecting on the vibrant atmosphere and the trust he's built
in this dynamic city hub.
He began his career as an assistant to
his brother Gaudioz Shiija, who established a computer training college in
Kamata, Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam, in the year 2000. At that time, digital
technology was still in its infancy in Tanzania. "By that time, there were
not many laptops; the maintenance hinged more on desktops and outdated
software, which are currently unavailable," he recalls.
Malimi’s clientele is diverse, with
many being university students. The major glitches he handles in their machines
include issues with displays, hard disks, keyboards, mice, and worn batteries.
"In case one leaves a computer with children, one is likely to face
challenges where they press hard on the keyboards or spill water, which
disturbs the entire machine inside," he explains.
Malimi’s expertise is sought after
even by prestigious institutions like the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) and the CRDB
Bank. He notes that many IT experts at these institutions lack practical skills
and experience.
"Oftentimes, when somebody tells
you in an office to wait and chart the way forward on your machine after three
or four days, mind you, they bring them to me for maintenance," he says.
"When you receive it from them, one might think it was done by experienced
experts while in fact, they had outsourced the work to me."
Feature writer Adonis Byemelwa engages tech-savvy Pascal Malimi in an insightful interview. Photo: courtesy.
He observes that most graduates are
good at theoretical skills but lack practical experience. "They come for
jobs at my office, and in a very short period, I learn that they are unable to
show talents. But with a week or two of instructions, they cope and work
diligently," he bemoans. Paschal criticizes the education system in
Tanzania for focusing more on theory than practical skills, which hinders
graduates' ability to fit into the job market.
"I have employed several
graduates in soft and hardware engineering. Under my tutelage, they make it
along the way. They are very keen to follow my instructions when I receive them
in the first place, they are mostly good at software and programming but not
maintenance," he says. "My most customers are concerned about
hardware engineering because they come with damaged machines."
Regarding employment, Paschal says he
only has four permanent mechanics who are paid based on their daily jobs. Many
others come to learn and then open their offices elsewhere. "I can collect
over Sh 300,000 from customers, depending on how the day goes—I am widely
connected to several offices in Dar es Salaam and upcountry.
“When I ask my employees to work on a
certain machine and it gets fixed, I apportion a percentage of the amount
collected and give it to them. Sometimes, I ensure they collect Sh 20,000 per
day. If I am satisfied with their good job, they can collect even Sh 50,000 or
more," he notes.
Malimi not only deals with maintenance
but also sells machines. "There are some companies which bring damaged
computers and decide not to have them repaired and opt to buy new ones.
Depending on the nature of the glitches, I pick them and resell them to others,
from where I collect a lot," he explains.
However, the job is not without
challenges. Paschal pays over Sh 600,000 per month in rent to the National
Housing Corporation (NHC). He finds this rent astronomical for a public
building, arguing that the government should reduce the rent for business
startups. He also faces frequent visits from the police searching for stolen
machines.
"This disturbs my work schedules
because they hardly listen to my concerns, equating me with many other thieves
without evidence," he laments. "The law enforcers think most hardware
computer engineers are thieves, dealing in stolen machines. They do not respect
our jobs, and mostly, we hardly appear smart in public because of the job
nature, which puts even my assistants at risk."
The taxman is another challenge for Malimi,
as he collects huge amounts in total disregard of the business volatility.
"Computer maintenance needs a lot of patience and prudence. One can bring
a machine with one problem, say a keyboard issue, and then after opening it, a
mechanic destroys the display. One challenge brings another along the way, and
the blame game comes in," he explains. "It needs wisdom when dealing
with customers.
“One damage can cause many more
damages while fixing up the machines. The computer owner would always attribute
the new technical glitches to an engineer. You can fix up the machine and get
assured it is okay, but it fails to turn on and show anything on the display."
On acquiring spare parts in Tanzania,
Paschal says it is easy because most machines have parts available in Kariakoo.
However, modern computers pose a challenge due to their complexity. "Some
machines are so complicated; the maintenance process is a headache.
One may find that the motherboards and
sockets, and the Random Access Memory (RAM) are fused. If one of them gets
damaged, one has to buy the whole system. For older computers, the RAM and
socket were separated, and the SSD could be easily changed, but these days, you
find a machine with all these tools fused into a blended system to the
detriment of our job efficiency," he says.
Looking to the future, Malimi plans to
open a college if he collects enough funds. He would have developed the college
left by his late brother, Gaudioz Shiija, but it was encumbered with debts
amounting to Sh 30,000,000 from the taxman and financial institutions.
"This challenge would plunge me into more troubles than prosperity,"
he notes.
Paschal Vicent Malimi calls on the
government to support business startups, especially in times of scarce jobs.
His enterprise aims to create more jobs for the youth who frequently seek slots
at his workshop. "It is time the government gave us loans to run our
business. If possible, these loans should be concessional with little or no
interest at all. Currently, even when one has started a business that has not
flourished to bring profit, the taxman comes with huge demands, which plunge
the entire project into failure," he says.
In January 2023, the Tanzanian
Ministry of Finance and Planning held the first-ever National Tax Dialogue
themed "Policy Reforms for People’s Development." Professionals and business
leaders discussed tax issues, and Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba pledged
"friendly tax policies."
Malimi was impressed by the depth of the
discussions and the government's receptive attitude. "There is light at
the end of the tunnel as far as the business environment is concerned," he
says.
As more African countries move towards
enacting startup acts to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, Tanzania
risks being left behind due to hesitation among stakeholders. The potential
benefits of a startup economy—creating jobs, boosting innovation, and driving
economic growth—are clear. Malimi highlights the importance of a startup policy
to unlock this potential, especially for Tanzania's large youth population.
Inspired by Gaudioz Shiija's
contributions, Paschal Malimi advocates for "special favors" for
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), including tax exemptions.
"These special favors should be extended to Micro, Small, and Medium
Enterprises, as well as startups. Startups hold immense potential to drive our
economy forward," he argues.
Tanzania stands at a crossroads.
Nearly two-thirds of the country's 62 million people are under the age of 24,
presenting either a significant opportunity or a massive challenge. Various
sources estimate that between 800,000 and 1 million young people enter the
labor market annually, with over 50,000 graduating from higher-learning
institutions without formal jobs waiting for them.
Malimi believes that with the right
investments, the proverbial "demographic dividends" can become a
reality for Tanzania. "A dividend is the result of your investments. If
you invest well, you get results. But that doesn’t happen by itself," says
Ahmad Alhendawi, former United Nations youth envoy.
Malimi's steadfastness and humility in
the face of these challenges exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship needed to
drive Tanzania forward. By supporting businesses like his, the government can
help create a thriving startup ecosystem that provides jobs and fosters
innovation. His story is a testament to the potential within Tanzania's youth
and the critical role of supportive policies in unlocking that potential.