Inventors want firm policy and law to guide industry

By Prosper Makene

An unmanned military marine craft that was invented by the Vocational Education and Training Authority on display at the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF).

The government has been urged to have polices and laws that will assists scientists and innovators to improve their innovative technologies so as to ensure the country having its own know-how instead of borrowing from abroad.

Speaking in an interview with The Guardian at the ongoing Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) on Monday, Vocational Education and Training Authority (Veta) instructor Emmanuel Bukuku said that the importance of young scientists and innovators is not taken consideration by the powers that be, hence making some to quit the field.


Bukuku added: “We need to have policies and laws that support new scientists and technologists. Tanzania has endowed to have many innovators, but lacks the urge to support their uplifting. It is only through policies and the laws guiding them that the young scientists and technologists would increased.”

However, he said that Veta has come up with a new unmanned military marine craft mounted with Radio Frequency Remote Control that can be used in securing the country’s waters.

He also said that the unmanned military marine craft has the ability to collects data on marine safety.

“The unmanned boat has the ability to take photographs of anything passing on the seas because it has sensors that can sense objects. Through wireless internet, the craft can takes photos and send them offshore,” he said.

Bukuku pointed out that apart from military purposes, the craft can also be used in military universities, higher learning institutions and technological colleges for studies.

"The craft has four cameras which are powered by the solar system to ensure the work properly. We plan to sell this technology out of the country if we get the market,” he added.

The Vocational Educational and Training Authority (VETA) was established by an Act of Parliament No. 1 of 1994 and is charged with broad tasks of coordinating, regulating, financing, promoting and providing vocational education and training in Tanzania.

The history of VETA dates back to the 1940s when the Apprenticeship Ordinance was enacted to guide training in the industry.

The Vocational Training Act of 1974, which established the National Vocational Training Division, was replaced by the Vocational Educational and Training Act of 1994.

Veta’s mission is to ensure provision of quality VET that meets labour market needs, through effective regulation, coordination, financing and promotion, in collaboration with stakeholders and its vision is to be an excellent VET system that is capable of supporting national social economic development in a global context. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN