The Tanzania Shipping Company Limited (TASHICO) is set to invest 4bn/- in a crucial project aimed at significantly improving transport services on Lake Nyasa. This initiative, slated to begin early next month, primarily focuses on the rehabilitation of MV Songea, a large passenger vessel.

MV Songea, with a capacity of 212 passengers, ceased operations in 2017 due to dilapidated facilities. Its absence had significantly hampered transportation on Lake Nyasa, a vital waterway in the country's southwest, leaving MV Mbeya II as the sole passenger vessel.

Eric Hamissi, TASHICO managing director confirmed the plans during an interview at the ongoing National Service Week. He stated that the state-owned marine transport company has allocated the 4bn/- in the 2025/26 fiscal year to ensure the vessel is fully repaired and returned to service.

"If all goes well, works for the repair of the ship will commence from earlier next month,"   Hamissi explained. "We're currently working on evaluation of the vessel to identify the specification of the needed repair, and we will thereafter search for a professional company to undertake the repair." 

He emphasised that MV Songea's design is well-suited for Lake Nyasa's high tides, and its revival will play a meaningful role in advancing transport services.

In addition to passenger services, Lake Nyasa is also served by two cargo ferries, MV Njombe and MV Ruvuma, each capable of carrying 1,000 tons of cargo between Tanzania and neighbouring Malawi and Mozambique.

Hamissi highlighted TASHICO's broader efforts to ensure widespread availability and accessibility of transportation services across all of Tanzania's Great Lakes. He revealed that a total of Tsh 171bn/- has been set aside for the 2025/26 financial year to finalise ongoing projects and implement new ones, all aimed at improving marine transport performance. Plans are also underway to construct four new tug boats to serve all the Great Lakes region.

 He expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan's consistent injection of sufficient annual budgets, which had enabled the company to complete key projects effectively.

Retired Major General John Mbungo, chairman of TASHICO's board of directors, also commended President Samia and attributed the company's recent successes to strong cooperation between the management, staff, and the board. He expressed high optimism for impressive milestones in elevating the country's marine transport in the near future, particularly with ongoing major reshuffles within the company.

Historical records show that TASHICO was facing severe operational challenges in 2015, with most of its ships dilapidated. However, government intervention in 2017, including the appointment of a new director and the formation of a new board in 2020, marked a turning point. This led to the signing of contracts in 2018 for the rehabilitation and construction of new vessels, including the repair of MV Victoria and MV Butiama, the construction of MV Mwanza, and the installation of a major slipway dock in Mwanza.

Currently, TASHICO owns 18 vessels, with four actively operating and the remainder slated for major rehabilitations. TASHICO is a government-owned entity based in Mwanza, specialising in marine transport services across Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa.