The Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA) is fast cementing its role as a cornerstone of government efficiency and infrastructure development, thanks to its expanding portfolio in engineering maintenance and transport solutions.
This was underscored on May 5, 2025, when the Minister for Works, Mr. Abdallah Ulega, presented his ministry’s 2025/26 budget estimates before Parliament.
He detailed how TEMESA, through strategic reforms and increased capacity, has significantly improved service delivery across sectors, from ferry transport to government asset management.
“TEMESA continues to be the government's trusted technical arm, providing critical support in the operation and maintenance of public assets, particularly vehicles, ferries, and electrical systems,” said Minister Ulega.
TEMESA's work, according to him, is not only enhancing mobility and safety but also reducing costs and increasing efficiency in public service delivery.
In the 2024/25 financial year, TEMESA executed a wide range of responsibilities across its mandate as the agency completed maintenance for 19,778 government vehicles, contributing to the uninterrupted service delivery by ministries, departments, and public institutions.
Minister Ulega noted that the maintenance included not just vehicles but also vital systems in government buildings, 114 electrical systems, seven electronic installations, and 222 refrigeration and air conditioning units.
This technical work, though less visible to the public, is essential for the functionality of key institutions such as hospitals, schools, and administrative offices.
Perhaps one of the agency’s most public-facing achievements lies in ferry management, a domain in which TEMESA has become indispensable.
According to Minister Ulega, the agency currently manages 32 ferries operating in 22 strategic locations across the country.
Over the past year, these ferries transported more than 18.7 million passengers, 350,000 vehicles, and over 103 tons of cargo.
“This is not just transport. These are lifelines for communities,” he stressed. “For island regions and areas separated by water, ferries operated by TEMESA connect people to markets, schools, and hospitals. They are essential to regional integration and economic activity.”
To support these ferry operations, TEMESA has been actively involved in constructing, renovating, and maintaining ferry terminals and docks.
These improvements are part of an ongoing government initiative to modernize transport infrastructure, especially in lake regions and coastal zones where access remains a persistent challenge.
Minister Ulega confirmed that funding for these projects had been secured through public grants, and the progress made so far was encouraging.
The minister also lauded TEMESA’s contribution to road construction through the leasing of construction machinery.
He emphasized that by providing affordable, reliable equipment, the agency is playing a direct role in accelerating roadworks nationwide.
“TEMESA’s services go beyond maintenance—they are facilitating economic infrastructure that unlocks productivity in rural and urban areas alike,” Ulega said.
Looking to the 2025/26 fiscal year, TEMESA has laid out an even more ambitious agenda.
The agency plans to maintain 29,063 vehicles, nearly 50 percent more than the previous year and to install 55 electrical systems, 312 refrigeration and air conditioning units, and 17 electronic systems.
Additionally, it will offer engineering consultancy services for 37 new projects and continue overseeing 58 ongoing installations.
These expansions reflect not only increased demand but also growing institutional trust in TEMESA’s technical capabilities.
A key innovation highlighted by Minister Ulega is the introduction of a prepaid vehicle maintenance model, which began in January 2025.
Under this system, public institutions can plan and budget for maintenance services in advance, minimizing downtime and increasing operational predictability.
“This reform is part of the broader TEMESA Transformation Strategy for 2024–2026, which is aimed at turning the agency into a high-performing, digitally-driven service provider,” he said.
The transformation strategy, approved in December 2024, focuses on three pillars: operational efficiency, service quality, and institutional sustainability.
According to Ulega, the strategy positions TEMESA not just as a maintenance agency, but as a dynamic force in public sector modernization.
“This is a new era for TEMESA. We are not just fixing vehicles and ferries—we are building systems, investing in innovation, and making government services more responsive to the people,” he stated.
TEMESA’s progress underscores a broader theme in President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration—modernizing public institutions to deliver real, measurable results.
In a context where service delays and asset mismanagement have often undermined development goals, the agency’s turnaround offers a template for effective, accountable government.
As Tanzania pushes forward with its industrialization agenda and infrastructure expansion, TEMESA’s work in ensuring mobility, safety, and technical soundness will remain vital.
In the words of Minister Ulega: “When our ferries are running on schedule, when our government vehicles are on the road, and when our public institutions are functioning efficiently—it means TEMESA is doing its job. And that job is helping the nation move forward.”
