By Alfred Zachariah
The Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical, and Electronics Services Agency (Temesa) has announced a major investment opportunity for both local and foreign private investors to modernize its workshops and ferry services through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements. This move comes as part of the agency's efforts to improve efficiency and service delivery in line with growing market demands.
Temesa, established to provide electrical, mechanical, and electronic services, is also responsible for maintaining government vehicles, operating ferries, and offering equipment hire services across Tanzania. The agency manages a network of 30 workshops in 26 regions, repairing and maintaining over 29,000 vehicles annually, including 9,183 government vehicles, 12,778 motorcycles, and 433 pieces of equipment. Additionally, TEMESA operates 32 ferries across 22 crossings in 12 regions, ferrying an average of 79,863 passengers and 3,696 vehicles daily.
To meet rising demand, the Tanzanian government is constructing eight new ferries, five for Lake Victoria and three for the Indian Ocean, creating further investment opportunities for private investors. These include land, buildings, waiting lounges, ramps, and office spaces at ferry crossings.
In a bid to improve service delivery, Temesa plans to operate 13 of its workshops under a PPP model. The workshops, located in regions such as Katavi, Rukwa, Shinyanga, Kagera, Singida, Iringa, and Mara, among others, will be open to private investment for modernization. Similarly, Temesa aims to manage its ferry services through PPPs, allowing investors to either rent ferry crossings, form joint ventures with the agency or operate their ferries alongside Temesa's fleet.
Furthermore, the agency seeks to involve private investors in its equipment hiring services, which span four regions of Tanzania.
Temesa’s initiative is supported by the Public-Private Partnership legal framework, specifically under the PPP Regulations 2020, amended in 2023. The regulations allow the agency to secure private sector involvement in projects operated under the PPP model. The agency's focus on modernizing its services through PPP is seen as a strategic response to the growing demand for efficient and reliable services across the country.
The PPP Centre, led by Executive Director David Kafulila, has been instrumental in guiding public sector entities like Temesa in structuring PPP projects. Since its establishment earlier this year, the Centre has been pivotal in shaping the country’s PPP landscape, aiming to streamline and expand PPP opportunities across Tanzania.
This new phase of public-private collaboration promises to bring advanced technology, enhance operational efficiency, and elevate service standards in Tanzania’s public sector.