CHALLENGING THE CONSTRAINTS TO
ICTS IN Bunda and Serengeti Districts
by
Ophelia Mascarenhas
BASELINE STUDY OF BUNDA AND
SERENGETI DISTRICTS
Prepared for COSTECH
January 2007
Baseline Study of Bunda and Serengeti
Districts
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Background to the Study
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ICT4RD objective
Opportunity to achieve the objective
Links with the KTH study
National ICT Framework
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Good developments in cellular telephones
Less spectacular in Internet
The Opportunity Provided by the
Rural Electrification Project in Bunda
and Serengeti Districts
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The famous optic fibre;
empty at the moment
and waiting for the
promised broad band
Let Us Start With Images
Some Recent Studies
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Many studies on ICTs and poverty and the
use of ICTs – RIA, DFID
For Mara Region study involving the use of
ICTs in 150 SME’s in Dar es Salaam, Arusha,
Mwanza, Zanzibar, and Mara found that in
Mara, there was virtual “inexistence of any
cell phone or internet services.” (2001)
Most assessments not based on pre-ICT
intervention situations
Bungalows & Herds-boys in Jeans
Objectives of the Study
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To provide a pre-project situation analysis of
the socio-economic conditions of the 12
villages in the 2 districts, Bunda and
Serengeti with special emphasis on (but not
limited to) education, health and local
administration and small and medium
enterprises (SME’s).
To obtain an understanding of the level of
current use of communication systems
including ICTs in the two districts. ,
Methodology
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Villages
Bunda District: Manyamanyama, Ligamba
“A”; Kisangwa; Bukama; Kiroleli; Mugeta;
Salama “A”; Kyandege 54 km.
Serengeti District: Fort Ikhoma; Natta;
Nyichoka; Nyeberekera; Nyamsingisi
Plus 2 district headquarters
Persons Interviewed
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District Council Staff: 8: ( 1 each – DPLO; DEO;
DMO; District Trades Officer)
Heads of Private and Public Educational institutions:
8
Heads of Health institutions: 3
Other institutions (Head of Fort Ikhoma) 1
Villagers: 104 in 11 villages;
Business people: 71 (47 in Bunda Town and
Mgumu Town; 24 in the villages)
Total number of persons interviewed individually
or in groups: 195.
Socio-economic conditions
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The Economic Conditions
The FDI for Mara has declined between 1999 and
2001
Total revenue for Serengeti District in 2005 was
Tanzanian shillings 4.4 billion, of which 95 per cent
came from the central government.
Produce cess on exports was only 1. 2 per cent
while mining and tourism were not even mentioned.
Yet one of the most famous national game reserves
in the world is in Serengeti District and the District is
said to be rich in a variety of minerals.
Socio-economic conditions II
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As a result of these anomalies, the last
Household Budget Survey, 2000/01, ranked
Bunda district as the poorest district in
Tanzania, 119th out of 119 districts, a fact
that was commented on by the President just
recently. Serengeti is a close second at
116th out of 119 districts.
Socio-economic conditions
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This ranking is both disturbing and surprising. The
research team made several observations that
somehow do not match the poverty ranking status. :
(i) there was a vibrant small business activity;
(ii) Large herds of cattle were observed, particularly
in Serengeti District;
(iii) The majority of the villages had more than 3
maize mills and some even as many as 6 maize
mills – all operating on diesel.
The Largest Lake in Africa but Bunda has
little water & there is even some History
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Less than half the
population of Bunda
has protected water
supplies
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With the right
investment and policies
this historical site can
be an asset for
Serengeti District
Indicators of Poverty or Wealth
Business Women & Fantastic Sunsets
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Females play a
significant role in the
informal economy in
Serengeti district
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The beauty of the
landscapes of Mara are
reflected in the sunsets
PLASTICS & Vibrant Local Markets
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There is a demand for
basic consumer goods
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but even more
interesting
Is the VIBRANT weekly
traditional market in
Mgumu Township ……
there is a surplus
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Information and Communications
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Increasing use of the mobile telephone
No internet ISPs in either district and no
internet cafes
Internet being used in the district at own
premises or in cybercafes outside the districts
On Premises
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District Council offices
Some big businesses
Institutions (e.g. DDH in Bunda district)
Information and communication
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Off premises
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Businesses
Institutions
Individuals
Sector use
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LGA
Education
Health
SME’s
Public Access to IT in the Urban Area
and a Rural ICT
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Public access to
telephony in Bunda
Town
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BUT
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Even rural HHs do
invest in improved
housing and ICT
Satellite Dishes & Cross Country Buses in
the Rural Areas
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Village Shop & Bar/
Restaurant……ICT the
hidden persuader;
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Links with neighbours
in Arusha, Mwanza,
Nairobi
Count the Dishes … Pampering the
Staff or Globalization?
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A good comfortable life
for TANAPA Staff …..
Given the resources of
Mara… this type of
comfort zone is
possible for many,
many more.
Impossible if people are
excluded from rights to
their resources and
development
Where do Tanzanians invest?
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Good Private Schools
are an indication of
unequal growth!
However, they are
potential users of the
broadband
Mara is the playground of Billionaires in
US $; More and more land is for National
Parks and Foreign Gold Mining Interests
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Getting out of poverty, means investing in
education and schools;
Joining hands with the private sectors;
Taking Advantage of technological development;
Transparent enough to encourage people
Development with evictions and oblivious to the
needs of people leads to illusive development
Implications of the Findings
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There is a demand for cheaper and more effective
ICTs.
Currently large sums of money are being used on
mobiles and on travel to do business
The indications of the demand seem to indicate that
internet services can be operated on a self-sustaining
business basis
The initial clients are the district council, the better off
business people and the private educational, health
and financial institutions, financial institutions like Pride
and NGO’s
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The mobiles will continue to be popular so
interventions will need to take into account the
need for voice as well as other uses of the
broadband
Challenges
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The survey has raised people’s expectations; how
will these expectations be met? Who will lead the
process? Who will participate?
There is need to consider ICTs within the current
national policy of enhancing SME’s. Can some of
the 1 billion shillings be used to start at least one
public access internet café in each district?
At least two persons in Serengeti District are
currently involved in such business in Musoma. How
can they be persuaded to open similar businesses
in Bunda and Mgumu?
The Way Forward
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For the baseline study the way forward to
complete the analysis, fill in any gaps and
finish and disseminate the report
For Bunda and Serengeti the first priority is to
use the optic fibre for providing voice and non
voice ICT services
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING