MWE Correspondent
The Tanzania–Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), a historic symbol of pan-African connectivity, is set to embrace a modern future by adopting a centralized e-ticketing system connected to the Tanzania e-Government platform.
The announcement was made during the 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF), where government officials outlined sweeping plans to digitize the country’s transport sector in a bid to combat revenue leakages, enhance transparency, and modernize passenger experience.
Professor Godius Kahyarara, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, described the move as crucial for national development.
“This system is not just about technology—it’s about integrity,” he said. “It allows real-time monitoring of how many trains and buses are operating, how many passengers are being served, and how tickets are being issued. That kind of visibility is essential for accountability.”
The unified system is already in use by the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC), and several private bus operators. Now, Tazara will become the next major public transport operator to go digital.
Tazara—often referred to as the Uhuru Railway—was built in the 1970s through Chinese assistance to link Dar es Salaam in Tanzania with Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia, allowing Zambia to avoid relying on apartheid-era routes through South Africa.
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Stretching over 1,860 kilometers, the railway has long stood as a beacon of independence, pan-African cooperation, and infrastructure ambition. But like many post-colonial networks, Tazara has struggled with manual systems, corruption loopholes, and poor data management—challenges now addressed through digital reform.
With the rollout of digital ticketing, passengers will soon be able to:
- Book tickets online or via mobile apps
- Receive digital boarding passes and QR codes
- Track train schedules in real time
- Avoid fraud and middlemen
- Pay via integrated mobile money platforms like M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and Tigo Pesa
All data will be synced to a central government system operated under the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA), ensuring transparency across the entire supply chain.
LATRA has already licensed a few certified e-ticketing providers, including:
- Ottap Agency Company Ltd
- Hashtech Tanzania Ltd
- Iyishe Company Ltd
LATRA Director-General Habibu Suluo warned that operators who fail to integrate with the system within a 14-day compliance period may lose their licenses.
“We are closing the loopholes that have allowed revenue fraud to flourish for years,” he said.
For passengers, the shift means convenience, speed, and improved safety. No more handwritten receipts. No more unreliable paper-based tickets. No more touts or middlemen charging extra fees at the terminal gates.
From a government perspective, this new digital era will allow for better budget forecasting, infrastructure investment, and anti-corruption audits using real-time data. The integration supports national strategies like Tanzania’s Vision 2025 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
With digital boarding passes replacing paper tickets, Tazara will no longer just be a symbol of African independence—it will be a beacon of smart mobility.
