Dar es Salaam. The Tanzanian government is poised to introduce legislation for the formation of a Transport Board dedicated to the identification, registration, and oversight of transport professionals nationwide.
At the 40th graduation ceremony of the National Institute of Transport (NIT), Deputy Minister for Transport, David Kihenzile, announced that the proposed board would focus on enhancing professionalism and ethics within the transport sector.
“The government, in collaboration with stakeholders including NIT, is developing proposals for a law to establish a board for the registration of transport professionals,” Kihenzile stated.
He emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure that transport-related activities are handled by qualified individuals, thereby maintaining high ethical standards within the industry.
Kihenzile also highlighted the government’s commitment to upgrading NIT’s infrastructure, which is vital for equipping the institution to train experts, conduct research, and provide professional guidance for sustainable development in the transport sector.
He urged industry stakeholders to support NIT by offering practical training opportunities for students and advancing innovations generated by the institute.
During the graduation ceremony, NIT rector, Dr. Prosper Mgaya, disclosed that a total of 4,176 students graduated, including 2,581 men and 1,595 women.
Dr. Mgaya noted the challenges the institute faces, such as limited infrastructure and human resources. In response, NIT is in the process of constructing dormitories, offices, classrooms, and garages, with three buildings set to be completed by February 2025, funded by the World Bank’s EASTRIP project.
Additionally, NIT plans to expand to new campuses in the Lindi and Kilimanjaro regions to alleviate overcrowding at the Dar es Salaam campus.
On staffing issues, Dr. Mgaya mentioned that the institute is actively seeking government approval to hire more lecturers to reduce dependence on temporary staff.
