GEOG 323: Regional Geography of Africa with special reference to East Africa

Transportation, Manufacturing and Trade

Types / Forms / Means of Transport

Use of animals / animal traction: The use of animal-powered transport Human beings use non-human
working animals (beast of burden), for the movement of people and goods. The important beasts of
burden in East Africa are the camel, donkeys and horses. The camel is sturdy and can travel long
distances without water and is well adapted to arid and semi-desert areas of northern Kenya. Donkeys
and horses are utilized mainly in the grassland which is not tsetse-fly infested. Donkeys are used in
preparing land for crop cultivation. Much of the agricultural produce in rural areas are still moved from
the farms in head loads, on the backs of animals or in carts drawn by animals. In the Kajiado district of
Kenya, inhabited primarily by Masai, the use of donkeys was promoted to reduce transport burdens of
the rural people particularly women due to lack of access roads. Women used this to collect water,
firewood and carried maize to the grinding mill and this reduced the time and efforts they spent in these
activities.
Bicycles / motor bikes: Bicycles have always been used for commercial activities, but these services
started to emerge as distinctive phenomenon, both in East and West Africa, about two decades ago at
the height of economic depression. Bicycles are still widely used and desired as personal means of
transport but there is increasing conflict with motorized vehicles on the main arterial routes. In East
Africa they became known locally as boda boda services, a corruption of the English word border as
their main use was for smuggling goods, especially motor fuel, across the Kenya- Uganda border.
Gradually these operations developed into offering passengers, goods and services around the main
urban areas and market towns on both sides of the border. In Uganda the use of bicycles are highly
profitable - transport not only agricultural goods but also provide vital market information to farmers
and able to service their small-scale demands. In Kenya, bicycle taxis -boda boda are rapidly taking
over minibus taxis known as matatus. This is as a result of improvement in the bicycle industry leading
to lower production costs, (as people travel half the costs of matatus), and spend less time in traffic. The
bikes also bring environmental benefits, including cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Road Transport: In East Africa many roads were constructed as feeder routes to the railways. Motorable
roads, for a long time were confined to coastal areas and only trunk roads penetrated inland, providing
access to hinterland. Roads are important for many industries in the movement of raw materials,
finished products and the labour force. Like the railway they help to open up and develop richly
endowed areas. Road transport is the most widespread means of moving people and light goods over
most of East Africa. The roads also serve as feeders to railways by moving goods from rural areas and
farmlands to railway stations and distributing goods to the hinterland. Most roads are unpaved,
graveled and dusty. In Uganda, over 90% of passengers and freight traffic use road infrastructure (even
though 28.9% are paved and 71.1% are unpaved). Road networks in Uganda also provide vital transport
corridors linking Rwanda, Eastern DRC and Southern Sudan.

Rail Transport: Railway lines still perform important roles in East Africa. The lines often start from the
ports on the coast to the major mineral or agricultural producing areas. The railway lines in Uganda,
Kenya and mainland Tanzania are linked and form a single network. Railways made possible economic
carriage of bulky materials and heavy goods by land. The rapid movement of goods, people and mail
helped to accelerate development. One of the major lines is the Mombasa-Uganda railway line which
started in 1896 to facilitate the military and religious penetration of Uganda. The line was extended to
Nairobi and later to Kisumu on Lake Victoria. But decades of post-independence mismanagement
deteriorated the rail system. In Kenya, only 700 miles of the 1,7000 miles of tracks laid by the British are
operational. Efforts are however being made to revamp the rail system in East Africa. Kenya has opened
its first modern station in 80 years rebirth of the rail system and a symbol of growth in East Africa's
largest economy (the Telegraph, 2013). Similar efforts being made to revamp the rail system in Uganda
Air Transport: Air transport links the major settlements in each country and East Africa with the outside
world through the international airports at Entebbe, Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam. Each country has a
national airline and air transport mainly carries passengers who are in a hurry to get to their
destinations. The cost of air transport limits its use mainly to small, light-weight, expensive freight and
perishable commodities, e.g. mails, precious stones, highly-priced fruits, early vegetables and flowers.
Water Transport: Water transport is the cheapest and most convenient for the movement of large,
bulky, heavy and low- value and non-perishable goods such as coal, ore, timber, gravels. Inland
waterway services have also been developed on lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Nyasa. Lake Victoria in
particular provides an important means of inland water transport for the three East African countries.
Some lake ports have been established on lake Victoria that provide important economic services. But
fluctuations of the lake have brought about the closure of some of these ports. The main ports in use
now include Kisumu in Kenya, Bukoba in Tanzania and Port Bell that serve the Kampala Metropolitan
Area. There are also opportunities for small-scale but important transportation by means of canoes
(traditional and modern) along the coast-people along the lake sorely depend on lake transport.
Maritime Transport links East Africa with other parts of the world through the establishment of ports.
The Port of Mombasa is approximately twice the size of Dar es Salaam with 16 deep water berths (3044
meters in length), a container terminal, two bulk terminals for cereals and cement and two petroleum
terminals.

Manufacturing and Trade: There are different types of manufacturing industries. These include Food
and Beverage industries; Textiles and clothing; Building materials; Chemical and related industries;
Metal and Engineering industries. Most of these industries depend on the available raw materials.
Manufacturing industries are better developed in Kenya than in Tanzania and Uganda. Industrial
development was stimulated by the presence of European settlers and the Asian population. Nairobi, is
the main centre of manufacturing industries and trade in Kenya and this is as result of good transport
and communication networks. Mombasa is the leading port in East Africa and a major centre of trade
centre for exports and imports. The most important exports include minerals, coffee, tea, cotton,
cashew. There is also the increasing importation of consumer goods.

The Food Industry in Tanzania

In Tanzania, Dar es Salaam in the major manufacturing industrial centre. The Food industry is one of the
largest branches of industries in Tanzania, and is vast and diversified. These are categorized by different
segments such as fresh food industry, organic food industry, processed food industry and livestock food
industry. These categories are also made up of micro/small and medium food processors as well as large
food processors. The small and medium food industries are the majority of local manufacturers of
consumer goods and operate mainly in the informal economy. The large food industries include the
brewing, milling, baking, mineral water, fish and meat processing.

Challenges of the Food Industry in Tanzania

1. Limited Technology and Technical know-how

Most food producer use poor and labour intensive technologies with low production capacities
(esp. small and medium industries)

lack of processing equipment - food processors

Lack of capital to acquire improved technologies

2. Low level of business skills and knowledge

lack of well packaging materials

Limited capital to improve business - Issue of collateral

Banks reluctant to offer loans to small and medium food enterprises

Most of these industries lack sound managerial skills which financial institutions are looking out
for individual entrepreneurs do not have such skill

3. Road infrastructure and Power Supply

Only 5% of roads are bituminized these are the major roads joining the major cities particularly
Dar es Salaam-are in good condition.

Majority of roads are bad and increases cost of products to other parts of the country

Situation worsens during the rainy season

Poor power and water supply increases production costs

4. Storage Challenges

Limited storage facilities particularly for the small enterprises.

Prolonged limited access to electricity accompanied with tropical condition for microbial growth
result in great loss to processors, wholesalers, retailers as well as consumers.

5. Research and Development

Few organizations in Tanzania addressing educational and R &D.

Many small/medium industries do not utilize the available ones for innovation even though
innovation in areas such as preservation and storage equipment, packaging, process control are
important in the food industry for sustainable growth.

Reference

Ruteri, J.M. & Xu, Q. 2009. Supply Chain management and Challenges Facing the food industry
sector in Tanzania. International Journal of Business and Management. Vol. 4 No. 12. pp 70-80.
http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/download/3706/3764.