MINISTER for Transport Professor Makame Mbarawa has directed the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) Board of Directors to put more effort in ensuring sustained effective delivery of railway transport services.
Prof Mbarawa issued the directives on Monday, while inaugurating the TRC Board of Directors that has seven members. He tasked them to come up with innovative business ideas to enable the corporation to operate more profitably.
“You need to assure yourself that you are in charge of the government’s vision and you have to establish strong systems to improve operational performance and be creative so that TRC can operate more commercially and profitably,” Mbarawa said.
Mbarawa tasked the board to start with improving customer service and e-ticketing. The second area that the board will have to work on quickly is managing the infrastructure to get value for money.
He challenged them to properly manage the procurement unit, especially when they procure locomotives.
“Do analysis to get the value of money. We want wagons to transport perishables including horticulture products because the demand is high. You have to look at what the market wants and how you can increase the number of wagons,” he stressed.
Open access is another area that he tasked the board to focus on because in collaboration with the private sector they will be able to do well and increase income for the corporation and the country in general.
Initially, Acting TRC Chief Executive Officer, Ms Amina Limuli said the management in collaboration with the board will ensure that they become the best transport organisation in Africa.
“We are continuing with the repair of 600 cargo wagons and 37 passenger wagons to ensure that we improve and provide better services to our clients,” said Ms Limuli.
On his part the Board Chairman Mr Ally Karavina said they will cooperate with management and staff as well as the private sector to make sure the TRC operates profitably.
