NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT (NIT)

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP STUDIES

INDUSTRIAL TRAINING REPORT (TAZARA-MBEYA)

STUDENT NAME : KUMBI MARICELI KESSY

REG NO. : NIT/BBA/2020/1215

COURSE : BBA

DURATION OF TRANING: EIGHT WEEKS

ACADEMIC YEAR: 2020/2021

LEACTURE NAME:
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................................i

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..................................................................................................................ii

CERTIFICATION.............................................................................................................................iii

LIST OF ABBREVIATION..............................................................................................................iv

CHAPTER ONE.................................................................................................................................1

1.1 BACKGROUND OF TAZARA...............................................................................................1

1.1.1 TAZARA VISSION AND MISSION................................................................................1

1.2 TYPES OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION.............................................................................2

1.3 ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE............................................................................................2

1.4 ACTIVITIES PERFOMED BY THE ORGANIZATION........................................................3

1.5 LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY....................................................................................................5

1.6 CUSTOMERS...........................................................................................................................6

CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................................6

2.1 PLACEMENT IN THE ORGANIZATION.............................................................................7

2.2 ACTIVITIES PERFOMED BY THE STUDENT....................................................................7

2.3 WORK ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................9

2.4 PROBLEM FACED..................................................................................................................9

2.5 SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS.......................................................................................10

2.6 EXPECTATIONS AND THE RESULT OF THE ATTOUCHMENTS................................10

2.7 NEW THINGS LEARNED....................................................................................................10

2.8 GAPS IN TEACHING THEORY AND PRACTICES..........................................................11

2.9 RELEVANCE OF ATTACHMENT......................................................................................11

CHAPTER THREE..........................................................................................................................11

3.1 CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................11

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 3.2 RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................................................12

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I extend my inner most gratitude to the God who helped me to accomplish this task of preparing
industrial training report also I extend my special thanks to those who contributed either direct or
indirect in this work, they made me realize a great success in the process of preparing this field
practical report writing at TAZARA. Specifically, I congratulate all TAZARA staff Members who
helped to enrich this report. Their contribution in this report is invaluable, reminiscent, and hence
unforgettable.
I highly acknowledge Mr. MKUBUROA chief Freight officer at TAZARA who keeps on inspiring
me to continue relentlessly in Field practical training and report writing. I also appreciate his great
leadership of the Booking office.
I also extend a lots of thanks to the TAZARA Chief Booking Clerk Mr. Kazimoto all booking
clerks whose positive comments and appreciations enthused I to complete this task. Their advice,
criticism, reactions, objection, reinterpretation as well as ‘sharp eyes’ stimulated me to profoundly
delve deeper into the root of how works are done there at TAZARA and I come up with this useful
treasure trove.
Moreover I highly acknowledge (NIT Supervisor Mr.JefersonB.M ) whose critical analysis made
me rectify some areas which were not adequately covered especially on report writing his
contribution is invaluable and reminiscent.
To those who might have assisted me but haven't appeared in this Field practical report I
appreciate your moral and any other form

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 CERTIFICATION

I MERUKTA KUMBI MARICELI with registration number NIT/BBA/2020/1219 I certify that

this field practical training report is the outcome of my own work and understanding after
undertaking practical training at Tanzania and Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) At Bugurun
Station.

Signature………………………………
Date………………...............................

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 LIST OF ABBREVIATION

TAZARA - TANZNIA AND ZAMBIA TRAILWAY AUTHORITY

SADC - SOUTH AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
DR CONGO - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
US - UNITED STATES
REG NO - REGISTRATION NUMBER
BBA - BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
DSO - DOWN SIDED OPEN WAGON
HSO - HIGHER SIDED OPEN WAGON

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 CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF TAZARA.
The Word TAZARA is an Acronym for TANZANIA ZAMBIA RAILWAY AUTHORITY. It was
constructed as a turnkey project from 1970 to 1975. The Project was financed through an interest
free loan of RMBY 988 Million (equivalent to US Dollars 500 Million) from the People’s
Republic of China. It started commercial operations in July 1976.
Tanzania and Zambia clearly had the motive to construct TAZARA but it was very clear from the
beginning that this project would cost huge amount of money in which two countries couldn’t
afford but the government of the people’s republic of china under the wise leadership of late
chairman Mao Tse-tung were approached and readily accepted to support the project. On 5th
September 1967, an agreement for the construction of TAZARA was concluded in Beijing china
between the three Government of China, Tanzania and Zambia. The initial idea was for the railway
to start from kidatu in Tanzania to kompoyoin Zambia.
The main purpose for the construction of the railway was to link the countries found on the
southern Africa including connecting Zambia, southern Rhodesia currently Zimbabwe and
Tanzania. Also to be able to transport goods such as copper and to make easier the transportation
activities, within those countries. Example to transport copper from Zambia to Tanzania also to
transport people and their goods to different parts TAZARA is an integral part of the southern
Africa Regional Rail Transport Network. It is a rail link of approximately 1,860 km. long rising at
sea level from the East African port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, to New Kapiri Mposhi at
1400m above sea level in the Central African country of Zambia. The railroad is designed with a
1067 mm gauge that permits through traffic operations with contiguous railway of Southern
Africa. Equipped with adequate facilities, TAZARA has a designed capacity of 5 million tons of
freight a year.
TAZARA currently handles exports/imports of both Tanzania and Zambia, as well as Malawi, DR
Congo, the great lakes region, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The construction of Kidatu transshipment Depot has opened and linked new markets of Kenya,
Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The containerized traffic arriving from South Africa as well as
imports through Dar es Salaam t can now be easily transshipped at Kidatu (by TAZARA or TRC)
to other destinations in the SADC countries and East & Central Africa

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1.1.1 TAZARA VISSION AND MISSION.
VISION
To be the most preferred transport organization in the sub-region.
MISSION
To satisfy customer needs through the provision of an efficient and quality transport service

1.2 TYPES OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION.

TAZARA is a public organization controlled by the government of TANZANIA and the
Government of ZAMBIA. Both countries own and benefit equally from the organization. The two
countries cooperates in solving and conducting different things that relates with TAZARA
example in case of improving organization infrastructure, the working effectiveness, promotion
both countries cooperates, a single country can’t do a task that was supposed to be done by both
countries so the countries cooperates in each and everything as long as the matter consist
TAZARA.

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 1.3 ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

BOARD OF DIRECTOR

MANAGING DIRECTO

DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR

REGIONALGENERAL
MANAGER REGIONAL
(MBEYA) MANAGER
(DAR ES SALAAM)

ACCOUNTING
&FINANCEHF S&T SAFETY
HR CIVIL MECHANICAL
(T) RSTE RSO
DEPERTMENT RCE RME
HHR (T) Department ENGINEER
MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER

OPERATION ADMINISTRATION LEGAL DPT

COMMERCIAL
OFFICE POLICE RAO
HC
HO DFC

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1.4 ACTIVITIES PERFOMED BY THE ORGANIZATION
The organization perform a couple of activities including the following
Passenger Transportation
TAZARA deals with the transportation of people like any other means of transport from different
area of the word to the differentiate location. Some passenger from Mbeya travel with train to Dar
es Salaam other to Mlimba and some travel from Mbeya to Zambia. Apart from those passenger
there at TAZARA comes some Passenger from Europe who transport to south Africa other
transport through train for tourist activities example if they want to visit Mikumi they drop at
Mlimba so as to continue dealing with their issue.

Transportation of Bulk Goods

Freight section under department of commercial is the major responsible department for
transportation of bulk goods through trains to various places, like wise there are some customer
who transport their goods through trains due to its ability of carrying many commodities.
Examples of commodities are ballast, concrete poles, timber, and copper from Zambia. Many
passengers prefer to transport their goods by trains due to sufficient protection as there is special
guard who protects the goods when they are transported so it’s difficult to be stolen.

Customer care
This activities entail all activities of engaging people especially passenger to be aware with the
activities that are offered by the organization. The department responsible is commercial
department through booking section, the senior Chief booking clerk and his associates they
perform this activities , they creates awareness to the customer who comes to visit TAZARA.
Apart from providing tickets to passenger they go further describing What TAZARA deals with
including the trains routes , trains classes First class, second class as well as third class and how
essential it’s to use Trains for transport.

Planning and controlling train movement.

TAZARA also plan and control the movement of the trains. Planning this mean that before the
train departure there's the plans prepared on “Plan Chart” which tell about at what time the train
will departure , what time it will take to reach at the certain station and what time it will take to
stay at point A to point B. planning helps to make decision example if trains reach at the station X
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before the planned time the driver should state the reason why he has been late to reach that point
also when trains reach the station X faster than away from planned time this train should be fined.
Control entails the communication that is done by the operational manager who ask at each station
at what time the train reached at the station so as to make correlation with what they planned.

Issuing tickets to passenger and providing parcel tickets

TAZARA also like other means of transport offer tickets to its traveller or passenger. The tickets
consist details about the name of the passenger, station from and the destination also the fare that
the passenger is supposed to pay. When parcel carried by the passenger exceed 30kg passenger is
supposed to pay for it. The process of preparing and issuing tickets is done by the booking clerk
who operates on the booking office.

Wagons and Locomotive repairmen

At the organization there are special people who have been employed just foe making repairmen
for the wagons and locomotive that are seemed to be leakage. Before the train departure its
examined if its warmish or not and if its warmishit’s given to the examiner so as to be repaired
after repairmen then the train is allowed to departure by the fore man.

Receiving and allowing trains to departure

TAZARA also perform the activities of receiving trains from different parts and allow the
departure for that trains. When any trains reach at MBEYA station the fore man direct the shaunter
to perform shunting activities where by wagons are separated with locomotive thereafter the
locomotive is inspected by the workshop workers and wagons are examined by the mechanics if
the train doesn't have any problem then the fore man allow the train to departure.

Railway shifting
Unlike other means of transport train doesn't have the capability of crossing the corner but what is
done so as to ensure that the trains move on the corner is what called railway shifting. When train
reaches at the place where there's a corner the “ports man” change the railway routes hereby the
trains pass on the other railway so as to move on the corner.

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1.5 LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY
TAZARA operates under the local technology. There’s no advanced, even medium technology the
organization conduct different activities locally. In facts there are a couple of activities done by the
organization that are supposed to be done basing on technology, but are done locally due to
insufficient level of technology. Example of activities that are done locally are Railwayshifting this
activity have a possibility to be done electronically but its done manually, Booking passenger
especially who are far but they want to use train for transport where supposed to book online but
due to local level of technology they are required to visit at the station to get their tickets, also in
terms of communication sometimes workers use their phone for organization work due to limited
number of office phones. Also awareness on what TAZARA deals with was supposed to be raised
by using the media so as the public can know what services are offered by the organization such as
through radio, television so that when passenger approaches the organization he already know
what the organization is generally about.

1.6 CUSTOMERS
TAZARA customer are from the MBEYA region and From region near the Mbeya such as
Songwe and other are foreigner who come to visit tourism attraction found within the country also
some of them are those who want to return to their home places like Zambia and south Africa. Far
from locations Also TAZARA customer comes from different level of income the organization
transport is affordable by those people from low income, medium income as well as larger income.
Trains have classes first class up to third class this class have got transport fare where by the first
class have got the higher price which goes decreasing as the class increase the third class have the
least price to be afforded by all people. So TAZARA have customer around Mbeya and from
different level of income.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.1 PLACEMENT IN THE ORGANIZATION

Since I arrived at the organization I passed through two departments with different section where
learn different activities performed by TAZARA. These departments are Commercial department
which have the following sections, Marketing section, Freight section, Booking office, and
Luggage. Another department is Operation which consists of the following section, Control and
Running section.

2.2 ACTIVITIES PERFOMED BY THE STUDENT.

The following are the activities that I was performing at the organization.
Preparing daily freight reports, weekly reports, monthly reports and tax invoice
When I was working on the commercial department the senior freight officer assigned me a duty to
prepare those reports. These activities built me and I gained experience on how reports are
prepared. Daily report is the report of the activity that has been done at a day example
transportation of commodities through trains the report about this commodities must be written,
weekly report is the report for the activities done on that week likewise monthly report is the report
of whole activities done on that month. Tax invoice is the book showing what goods has been
loaded on each wagons and to where those goods are transported, who is the owner of that goods
as well as the revenue obtained on that goods.

Issuing or providing tickets to passengers and parcels.

At the organization also I perform these activities when I was directed to work under the booking
office. Like other means of transport passengers also who want to travel by using train they are
given tickets which shows the passengers destinations, Transport fare as well as the distance which
passenger will take. In case of parcel tickets this are tickets offered to parcel which exceed 30kg
below that the passenger is not charged. So I gain experiences how to charge customer the fare of
different destinations.
Customer care
Some customer were so suspicious about knowing more details about TAZARA, so I was
responsible to describe to them what TAZARA is general about, what services the organization
offer and the price of different services that are provided by TAZARA I was able to do that task

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correctly through using the knowledge I acquired from the university and experience that I gained
at work. This task helped me to gain more confidence since I faced different kind of customer with
different attitude and perception as well as different level of understanding, now I know how
customer care is all about and what it takes for a person to deal with people well.

Supervising Loading Performance

This activity entails checking the way commodities are loaded in the wagons ready to be
transported, to check if the goods or commodities have been well loaded, so that nothing
detrimental can occur on the way when this goods are transported. Example there are kind of
wagons specifically to carry certain goods Example copper are carried on DSO (Down sided
wagon) while poles are transported through HSO (higher sided open wagon). So the main activity I
was doing is to ensure that goods are loaded on wagon specifically designed to carry that goods.

Planning and Controlling Trains Movement

These activities I perform when I was working under operation department. For the TAZARA
protocol Trains is not allowed to departure when the plan for the departure of this train have not
been prepared. Every day there's the plan for the train’s movement. Plan includes the departing
time of the train the time it will take to reach a certain station and what time it will take to reach
the destination. Control is the process whereby the operational master and his associates control
the way the train move such activities include communicating with people at several stations at
which the train pass to ask the time which the train reached so as to make correlation with the plan,
those activities I involved in performing.

Railway shifting
The person who conduct this activity is called” ports man” but due to fact that it was the practical
training I managed to do that activity also. This activity is all about changing the railway route so
that train can change its routes. on TAZARA there's five train routes, first and second train routes
is for Passenger express train and third to five train routes is for goods trains those trains that carry
cargo or goods, here comes when train is on number five route and its supposed to enter routes
number four, what is done is what called railway shifting, the process is done manually using the
equipment called handle

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Receiving and allowing trains to departure.
This activity is done by the department of operation and the section responsible is running.
Example when the train come from Dar es salaam and it’s going to Zambia when it reach at the
station, Mbeya station it is received first who is responsible is the fore man, after receiving the task
is given to the examiner to inspect the train, if it have no any problem then its allowed to continue
its journey. Here we check wagons if are safe, fuels is measured is is not contaminated but this
activity is done by engineer at the workshop.

2.3 WORK ENVIRONMENT.

Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) have conducive environment that provide smooth
working condition to its worker. The organization have Excellent operation environment also the
organization facilities are well built including offices, Rest room where passenger seat when they
wait for the departure, the passengers toilet, store room were passengers parcel are stored and
different commodities are stored before transportation.

2.4 PROBLEM FACED.

To be rejected at the place where I firstly requested to undertake field practical
During March I took field practical letter, used to request in various institutions so as to conduct
field practical as the institution was issuing before the closure of the university due to the corona
virus breakthrough. I submitted the letter to the TAZARA organization at Tunduma I requested to
undertake field practical training at TUNDUMA, my letter was accepted and I was told to report at
the organization at the time when I wanted to start. When the time of reporting to the organization
for field practical comes through, I went to report but they said they didn’t recognized me because
I don’t have a letter which show that I have been accepted to conduct field practical training at
their organization, in fact the communication was done oral between I and them when they
accepted me they gave me answer through phone call without giving me a letter. I took the
decision of finding another place thereafter Iget at TAZARA Mbeya.

Accommodation problem
Since I didn’t conduct practical training at home place, I faced problem of accommodation I was
supposed to rent a room so as I can stay for the whole time of my practice. It was too costly to start
a new life, but because the purpose was to get knowledge and experience based on what am

9
studying for I managed to tolerate until I finished my industrial training, its difficult to come
through the environment that you are not familiar with.

Copying to the organization environment

It was difficult to copy with the organization environment, to work at the organization for the first
time, meeting new people, performing several task you never performed before was another
challenge I faced, But it’s normal and likely to happen when you approach new environment.

2.5 SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS.

I beg the institute to expand, continue and maintain its program of helping its student to find the
place for conducting field practical training. Many student face the problems in finding the place
and institution to undertake field practical, also if the institute found the institution where student
can be placed the organization found, should be near the place where the student is living. Also the
organization should be relating to the course that the student is studying, because due to the
problem of finding place of conducting field practical students found themselves requesting to
conduct field practical even on the organization which doesn't relate to the course that they pursue.

2.6 EXPECTATIONS AND THE RESULT OF THE ATTOUCHMENTS

EXPECTATIONS
I expected to find independent Marketing and public relation department.
I expected to be allocated or placed to work under the marketing or pubic relation department.

RESULTS
At TAZARA (MBEYA) I found out that there's no marketing department but its considered as the
section under the department of commercial, and some activities that was to be performed by
marker like promotion, customer care are done by Booking clerk.
Since arrival at the organization I have been placed and worked under two departments
commercial and operation, that was out of my expectations. As I was expecting that I will be
placed to work under the marketing department or public relation.

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2.7 NEW THINGS LEARNED.
At the organization I have learned so many things of which some of them are out of the course that
I pursue. The following are the list of things that I have learnt at the organization.
Railway shifting
Customer care
Parcel charging
Planning and controlling train routes
Issuing tickets to passengers
How to live and interacts with people in the organization

2.8 GAPS IN TEACHING THEORY AND PRACTICES.

There’s limited gap, the gap is not large because many things that I learnt at the institute are the
same which I found at the organization and performed as the activities. Example preparing reports,
customer retention and customer care planning as well as management of activities those are
activities that are taught at the institute and are applied at the organization.

2.9 RELEVANCE OF ATTACHMENT.

The attachment is relevance since it help student to practice in reality what they are taught in the
institute, also it help to gain confidence on what student are doing hence it’s easier to compete and
to win when a chance of employment emerge. Also the attachment make student feel the same as
normal workers of the organization due to the cooperation which the worker of the organization
offers to the student, as they do whatever they can to help students to understand what they need to
understand, so the attachment is direct relevance.

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 CHAPTER THREE
3.1 CONCLUSION
This field practical exercise was mainly to enable me to acquire practical skills and link the theory
to practices in the real world so as to meet a labour market. I have been able to acquire practical
skills like issuing of train tickets with its important, how to care customer, also the important of
keeping records, weighing passengers parcels, calculating VAT for the goods that are transported
by the customer, planning and controlling trains movement. Through this practices I come to
realize that the concepts taught in the class is reflecting what is being practices in the real field, but
what is needed is to get more experience of the concepts and other related issues. Also through
field practical training I learned how to interact with different kinds of customer and which
business language is needed to insure the deal is taken. Through field practice exercise also I
learned the mission and vision of authority (TAZARA) and also through this focus I come to
realize the importance of the company/ organization to have mission and vision on its practices.

3.2 RECOMMENDATIONS
The government should facilitate the improvement of a new and advanced working facilitates to
the Authority (TAZARA). The government of the united republic of Tanzania and Zambian
government should support the improvement of the TAZARA facilities intentionally to improve
the performance of the organization and also even to minimize other trip delays caused by poor
and oldest infrastructures. If this thing will be improved it will help the organization to reach its
mission and vision of its establishment.
The authority (TAZARA) should also employ new competent and effective human resource in
order for the authority to go with the new changes of the human resource in the performance of the
organization. The authority faces difficult on the proper human resource so the TAZARA
management should check on the effective individuals who are much competent and also the one
who on one way or another can coup with the new demand of the work business environment.
Also I recommend that the authority should shift from more use of paper works on its practices and
start to engage itself on computerized systems that may actually reduce number of works and also
resources to be used to insurer the work is done. The use of computerized system is inevitable in
the new world like this and in order for the company to go with the changes its better to shift from
the paper work to the computerized system.

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I recommend that the government should facilitate the joint venture between the government
(authority) and private investor to join together in order to run the authority in competitive way
lather than when the government as full it operate in way of providing service lather than the
business, in order for the authority to perform well it needs much of its time to work on
competitive way lather that the way it works at this time.

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