Tanzania Community Networks Alliance (TZCNA) and Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly “Promote community networks cooperative societies for economic growth, socio-economic development, poverty eradication and accelerating the digital transformation in Tanzania and beyond”. TZCNA is a not-for-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) registered to operate in Tanzania Mainland to advocate for meaningful universal connectivity that contributes to positive impacts in the digital economy and TCDC was established by the Cooperative Societies Act No. 6 of 2013 to provide efficient and effective regulatory and promotional services for attainment of vibrant, modern and commercial cooperative societies in Tanzania.

The signing of the MoU was held in parallel to 2021 International Day of Cooperatives that was held in Tabora Region from 29^th June – 03^rd July 2021 with the theme, “Rebuild better together”. The climax of the International Day of Cooperatives in Tanzania was attended by the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa as the Chief Guest of the event.

TZCNA and TCDC will collaborate in the realization of the following objectives: advocate and sensitize on the establishment of community networks cooperative societies in Tanzania; promote ease accessibility and affordable internet bandwidths in rural based communities; promote provision of computers and networking equipment at an affordable price in the rural based communities with a purpose of enabling a smooth networking; become the platform that brings together community networks and community-based telecommunication networks and promote meaningful universal connectivity in Tanzania.

While exchanging the signed MoU, Dr. Benson Otieno Ndiege, TCDC’s Registrar said “We understand the role of ICT in supporting cooperatives societies in Tanzania and therefore TCDC encourages the use of ICT in operation of cooperatives both savings and credit co-operative societies and agricultural marketing co-operatives, commercial agriculture, extension services and introduction of modern crop management systems”. Tanzania Community Networks Alliance is committed in accelerating the digital transformation for the registered cooperatives in the country and beyond said, Jabhera Maseke Matogoro, the Founder and CEO for TZCNA. The signing was witnessed by Ms. Elizabeth James, Director of Legal Services for TZCNA, Mr. Shani Mayos, Head of Legal Department for TCDC, Journalist, representatives from Kondoa, Kasulu, Nyasa and Mpimbwe Community Network Cooperative Societies.