The government has in recent years taken the ambitious step of digitising and digitalising its services with the aim of making delivery more efficient, transparent and cost-effective. This mirrors global trends in e-governance, where technology is not only used to store information but also to transform how services are delivered.
Today, the Government e-Payment Gateway (GePG) enables citizens and businesses to pay taxes, licences and fees online or via mobile money, instead of queuing in banks. Business registration can now be completed online at BRELA. Utilities such as electricity and water are integrated with mobile money platforms and banks, allowing bills to be settled from the comfort of one’s home. Even government procurement has been modernised through Tanzania’s e-Procurement System (NeST), which allows tenders and supplier registration to be processed online, thereby improving transparency.
Despite this significant progress in digitalisation, there are still key sectors where services continue to be delivered manually. Several areas lag behind; two notable examples are land administration and health.
The Ministry of Lands has begun digitising land records, such as the rent information system, but much of land administration is still handled manually. A recent experience illustrates this challenge. Two weeks ago, I visited the Office of the Assistant Commissioner of Lands in Arusha to apply for a plot at the Olmot Estate, following a public advertisement. Around 400 applicants turned up to compete for 200 plots. After an arduous six-hour wait, applicants were called in one by one on a first-come, first-served basis. By the time the 60th person was called, we were informed that all plots had already been allocated. Such manual systems are slow, frustrating, and vulnerable to manipulation by rent-seeking individuals.
By contrast, Rwanda has developed one of the most advanced land administration systems in Africa. Through its Land Administration Information System (LAIS), 11 million land parcels are digitally registered, and land titles can be issued or transferred online. This system has greatly improved transparency, reduced corruption, and shortened registration processes from years to just a few days.
The health sector reflects a similar imbalance. While many health facilities have adopted digital systems, they remain poorly interconnected. When patients are referred from one facility to another, the process effectively starts afresh at the referral hospital. This digital gap undermines efficiency and should urgently be addressed.
In conclusion, Tanzania has made commendable progress in e-government, particularly in payment gateways and digital service portals. However, the overall transformation remains uneven, with key sectors such as land and health still lagging. To fully realise the benefits of digitalisation, challenges such as poor internet connectivity in rural areas, low awareness, and digital illiteracy among citizens must be tackled as the country advances its digital transformation journey.
