TANZANIA GOVERMENT TO REVAMP IT'S AIRLINE AIR TANZANIA

The government intention to revamp the almost dying national courier Air Tanzania Corporation Limited (ATCL) remains strong, according to the Minister for Works, Transport and Communications Prof Makame Mbarawa.
The plan to revamp the dying airline will involve among other things purchasing additional aircrafts
“Our intention to rebuild Air Tanzania remains strong. The move will improve economic investment opportunities and passengers will have reliable transport whenever they want to visit in our vast country,” he said.
The Minister noted that, President John Magufuli has expressed his desire to buy new planes for ATCL as a strategy to revamp the airline.
During his recent meeting with ATCL management, Prof Mbarawa reiterated the government’s commitment to revamp the ailing national flag carrier by buying new planes to enable it to operate as a commercial airline.
During 2015/16 budget, the government promised that ATCL would get two aircraft through a loan from the TIB Development Bank. The planes were part of government efforts to revive the airline although after seven months the national flag carrier still operates using one leased plane.  Its own aircraft were grounded for maintenance last July.
However, talks are still going on between the airline management and TIB Development Bank for the $20 million (about Tsh.44 billion loan), according to Gabriel Migire, the Director of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication. 
Migire said the maintenance for the grounded aircraft is about to be completed and it was expected to be in the skies by mid last month. The government spent about Tsh.2.94 billion ($1.33 million) for maintenance only. 
The government is also sounding out potential investors to enable ACTL run as a business entity. 
“We will only go for workers who are business oriented; those who can make Air Tanzania among the top contenders in the airline industry,” he said. 
Mbarawa said workers need to have positive thinking to ensure increased productivity and better services and that the government will conduct a staff audit as well as review employment procedures to ensure that the company is manned by competent and innovative personnel.
The ATCL acting Director General, Johnson Mfinanga told the Minister that the company was in a serious economic hardship and requested the government to rescue it from dying