From Waste Management to Economic Development - Mwanza City visitors in Tampere in October 2014

Learning about Molok Waste Collection System

From Monday 6th October to Wednesday 15th October various people and organizations here in Tampere had the pleasure to host and cooperate with quests from Mwanza Chamber of Commerce Mr Mmari and Mr Karambi and the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics, Mr Kashushura. They had conversations about topics such as entrepreneurship, project and financial management and strategic planning with the experts of respective the fields. Chamber of Commerce officials were at Tampere for one week, but Mr. Joseph Kashushura, Head of the Department of Economic Planning and Statictics in Mwanza had a busy schedule in Tampere for almost two weeks.

Some key issues Joseph Kashushura was interested in were population development, waste management and tourism entrepreneurship. For example population in Tampere is expected to grow by some 33 000 people in 20 years’ time. The same population increase can happen in Mwanza only in one or two years. That  is a big challenge to tackle, since people moving in require some basic services to have their needs met. 

One of the big challenges in the growing city of Mwanza is waste management. Mr Kashushura and his colleagues visited two different kinds of waste management companies in Tampere. From the discussion with Doranova Ltd’s Vice President, Joseph Kashushura got some tips about handling the capacity of the waste dumping site, for example how to generate energy from waste. Working transportation equipment and right tools for waste management are also important in tackling this problem. From Molok Ltd, which specializes in waste deep collection system, Mr Kashuhura got some tips about waste collection and hygienic waste storage, safely and efficiently. In Tanzania there is need for more efficient waste separation, Joseph feels, but he says that the Molok deep collection systems might be too expensive for them. It could be, however, possible to showcase the Molok system in a facility producing lot of waste, like the St. Augustine University, for example. 

Tampere Chamber of Commerce, left: Mr Mmari, Mr Karambi and Mr Kashushura

 In Mwanza lots of people are entrepreneurs. The examples from visit to Ensimetri, the New Enterprice Center, which is an enterprise agency helping people to establish their own business, could be easily brought to Mwanza as well. Joseph says that simple guide books and an information center for small entrepreneurs could be an easy way to start guiding people towards entrepreneurship and to link people with ideas and people with advice. 

One important industry in Tanzania is tourism and that was the topic of discussion with Tredea - Tampere Region Economic Development Agency. One tip Joseph got from there was to invest on improving Mwanza City’s website and advertising on the internet. There are also possibilities to make better use of the near-by Lake Victoria and Serengeti National Park. Offering water-sports and making the city more attractive to safari-goers and advertising the opportunities for hiking and other adventure tourism would attract people to environmentally diverse Mwanza.

From Mr Kashushura’s personal point of view, he explained that he got a lot of small tips and new practices during his visits to different Tampere City Departments in order to improve his own working methods as the City Economist of Mwanza. He saw the importance of strategic leading and planning and that the City Strategy must be a cross-cutting guideline to all city activities. Also, he got new tools for the yearly financial management of the city as well as some tips for Risk Management activities. Mr Kashushura felt that many of the learnt things he can instantly put into practice upon his return to Mwanza. 

Joseph Kashushura in the Tampere City Council Hall

All in all Mr Kashushura felt like the trip had been very, very fruitful and his expectations were met, with proper practical instructions. “We need chances in Mwanza, -- and I’m going to make sure issues are applied instantly, or some more in the long term”. It seems the trip was a success for Mr Kashushura, and hopefully these changes can be seen in the future in Mwanza.

Text: Sustainable Community Unit trainee Ms Laura Pokka

Pictures: Ruusa Gawaza