Tanzania’s Minister of State in the President’s Office for Public Service Management and Good Governance, George Simbachawene, has advocated the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to modernise the state’s public service delivery and increase effectiveness.
Speaking at the 4th e-Government Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, 7th February, at the Arusha International Conference Centre, Simbachawene lamented the prevalent lackadaisical attitude among government workers, which often results in “substandard execution of tasks” and prolonged wait times for citizens seeking services.
To combat these challenges, Simbachawene stressed the significance of digitisation and AI usage in enhancing administrative functions, reducing delays and ensuring transparency.
Tanzania, like many African nations has noted the benefits that AI can offer, however a 2022 global study on AI, commissioned by Lloyd’s Register saw 62% of Tanzania’s respondents resist the adoption of AI, fearing it would ham livelihoods in the coming decades. The government has since been working to change this sentiment.
In 2023, Tanzania invested heavily in enhancing its communication infrastructure, with expenditures exceeding Sh400 billion over two years. These investments aimed to foster technical innovation and creativity, driving economic growth in the nation.
Moreover, Tanzania launched an advanced digital education centre in October 2023, as part of its efforts to advance digital learning opportunities. The centre is poised to become a regional hub for digital education, which will help bolster Tanzania’s position as a leader in technological advancement within the East African region.
