28 February 2005

Hon. Fredric T. Sumaye, MP and Prime Minster of the United Republic of Tanzania
Hon Dr. Pius Ngwandu, MP and Minister of Science, technology and Higher Education
Prof John Mshana, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam
Prof Mabako, University of Dar es Salaam
Dr. Hashim Twaakyondo, Head of the Department of Computor Science and Coordinator of the Kilinux Project and all contributors to the Kilinux Project
Deans and Directors
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.

My appologies for not doing the appropriate thing – talking to you in Swahili. The language of Swahili and myself are not compatible yet.

I am very pleased and honoured to be invited to the launching of the JAMBO OPEN OFFICE Software of the Kilinux Project.  I am truly impressed by the work done by the Project Team under the leadership of Dr. Twaakyondo. I have had the opportunity to very briefly look into what is required to adopt the Linux Open Source to Kiswahili and how the discussion went on about how to translate the ”Recycling bin” into Kiswahili. It is not easy to translate into Swedish and there was apparently no obvious Kiswahili word for it either. I would like to congratulate the Project Team for an excellent job and the University for having reached this important landmark in the translation and and adoption of the Open Source soft ware to Kiswahili.

I think this is a historic event for several reasons:

• ICT is here to stay and the demand for ICT in society will continue to expand in all corners of the society

• According to the National ICT Policy of Tanzania from March 2003, Open Source and use of Kiswahili in ICT shall be promoted. Jambo Open Office is an evident and important milestone in this process.

• This is the first time Linux Open Source has been translated and adopted to local conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa - with the exception of South Africa. I understand that about 30% of the population of Tanzania speaks English and as much as 70% speaks Kiswahili. With proper policy backing from the Government of Tanzania, with continued efforts in translating additional software and with an extensive training program, Kilinux could in future make ICT available to millions of Tanzanian and at the same time save millions of dollars to Tanzania. (I have been told that the Government of Brasil is now using only Linux Open Source and thereby avoiding paying large user fees for the soft ware used.)

• With continued technological development, the cost of electronic communication will come down and its efficiency and coverage increase - thereby making it accessible for larger groups of people also in rural areas and not least in schools. It will soon be possible to access internet via mobile telephones, so your mobile telephone will become a more powerful communication tool. Tanzania could lead the way and demonstrate to the rest of the world how ICT can be effectively used in poverty reduction. It is a tough challenge but it is doable if commitments are there and all efforts are combined.

Sweden is proud to be associated with this project and will continue its support to Tanzanian efforts in adopting and integrating ICT to become an effective weapon in the fight against poverty.

With these words I hereby hand over the JAMBO OPEN OFFICE from Sida and University of Dar es Salaam via the Government of Tanzania to the the general Kiswahili speaking public – it is free of charge to use. May it be used by ever increasing numbers of Kiswahili speaking computor users inside and outside of Tanzania.

I thank you for your attention.