THE United Nations World Food Programme (WFP has expressed its commitment towards working closely with Tanzania Shipping Company Limited (TASHICO) in transporting food cargo.

WFP representatives from its headquarters in Rome, Italy made the remarks here recently during a visit to TASHICO’s Mwanza office to evaluate its performance in transporting food shipments from Dar es Salaam Port to South Sudan via Uganda, a collaboration that began in 2017.

During their visit, the delegation inspected the MV Umoja, a vessel instrumental in delivering food aid from Mwanza Port to Uganda and eventually to South Sudan, addressing hunger among vulnerable populations.

Speaking shortly after visiting the MV Umoja, WFP Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Sala Maharenovic emphasized the importance of assessing the partnership. 

“This joint discussion is crucial for a detailed evaluation and understanding of the current needs to further improve the relationship between WFP and TASHICO,” she said.

Eric Hamissi, TASHICO Managing Director expressed gratitude for the visit, saying: “The visit enhances the strong ties we have developed. Previously, our MV Umoja ship was not fully operational, but after the government invested 19.5bn/- in 2021 for major repairs, the vessel is now functioning efficiently.” 

Hamissi added, “This visit marks the start of renewed collaboration, especially now that MV Umoja is back in service after being out of operation for major repairs in 2019.”

Mamoud Mabuyu, Head of the Transport and Supply Department at WFP Tanzania, praised the partnership, noting: “This visit from our Rome headquarters highlights how essential TASHICO has been as a transport partner. The evaluation will help us understand the mutual benefits of our collaboration and identify areas for improvement.”

Eugenia Punjila, TASHICO’s marketing manager also highlighted the importance of government support. 

“WFP has been transporting food and aid supplies via MV Umoja to South Sudan through Uganda. We appreciate the government’s commitment to supporting our projects and hope for additional assistance to handle the anticipated increase in cargo after the completion of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR),” she stated.

MV Umoja’s veteran captain, Dembele Samsoni Mwita, remarked on the vessel’s improved performance stressing: “Following the major repairs, there has been a significant improvement in MV Umoja’s operations and efficiency compared to 10 years ago.” 

TASHICO, a state-owned entity, began operations in 1961 as TRC Marine Division, with a focus on advancing Tanzania’s shipping sector. Over the years, the company has rehabilitated aging vessels, built new ships, and enhanced water transportation in key lakes: Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa.

In 1997, TRC Marine Division was restructured into Marine Services Company Limited (MSCL) under the Companies Act. However, aging vessels led to operational challenges, and by 2017, only five ships remained active: MV Umoja and MV Clarias on Lake Victoria, MV Liemba and MT Sangara on Lake Tanganyika, and MV Songea on Lake Nyasa.

On November 18, 2024, the government transformed MSCL into TASHICO, aiming to further revitalize the water transport sector under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration.

By 2030, TASHICO is expected to employ 5,000 workers, reflecting the sector’s growth and the company’s expanding operations.