Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has praised Qatar for integrating technology and clean energy into public transport, saying Tanzania could draw lessons from the Gulf state to tackle traffic congestion.
Dr Nchemba made the remarks in Doha on Saturday, September 26, 2026, after receiving a briefing on the operations of Qatar’s transport company, Mowasalat, from Qatar’s Minister of Transport, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani.
The Prime Minister is on a three-day working visit to Qatar.
Dr Nchemba said Qatar’s investment in reliable public transport had helped reduce traffic congestion by providing commuters with dependable alternatives to private vehicles.
“Tanzania has a problem of traffic congestion. Through the technologies you are using, Tanzania can learn from the approaches you have adopted so that we can also address this challenge,” he said.
He also commended Qatar for its growing use of clean energy in public transport, describing the development as relevant to Tanzania’s plans to promote cleaner transport.
“President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan is a champion of clean energy in Africa, and this is a good step for us. We expect to host AFCON 2027, so this will be very useful to us,” he said.
Dr Nchemba also thanked Mowasalat for employing 722 Tanzanians in various positions, saying the jobs offered young people an opportunity to acquire skills and gain exposure to new technologies.
“This is an opportunity for our young people to develop their skills and learn different technologies,” he said.
During the briefing, Sheikh Mohammed said Mowasalat provides passenger transport services through buses and taxis, as well as school transport and transport services for private, national and international events.
He said the company transported 42 million passengers in 2025 using a fleet of 1,200 vehicles operating across 128 routes.
According to the minister, 70 percent of the company’s vehicles are electric, reflecting Qatar’s push to incorporate cleaner energy into its public transport system.
He also said the company had been able to take 12,363 vehicles off the roads because of the quality and reliability of its public transport services.
The minister said Mowasalat also uses technology to improve vehicle maintenance and safety.
Vehicles are electronically monitored and inspected through digital systems capable of identifying faults quickly, allowing technical teams to address problems before they develop into more serious failures, he said.
The briefing comes as Tanzania seeks to strengthen public transport systems and expand the use of cleaner energy, while preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host.