/ 1 July 1999

PHONE COMPANY FOR SALE

THE Tanzanian government is looking for potential buyers worldwide of the state-owned Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited, PSRC (privatisation authority) Executive Chairman John Rubambe declared in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday. The TTCL currently has only 127000 lines connecting its customers and has been offering telephone services to about 2% of Tanzanian families, he stated. He said that new investment capital, new technology and new management only comes with privatization. After being privatized, the TTCL might provide its customers with better telephone services, said Mr Rubambe. The winning bidder will receive 35% of TTCL shares and management control of the company under government regulations, Rubambe said. Up to 14% of shares will be sold to international financial organizations, 10% to Tanzania financial organisations and 5% to TTCL employees.