By Adonis Byemelwa
Paschal Vicent Malimi is a key figure at the bustling Kariakoo Market on Kongo Street in Dar es Salaam. Operating from a compact three-room workshop on the second floor of a National Housing Corporation (NHC) building, he expertly fixes damaged computers with a blend of humility and steadfastness that has made him a local legend.
Despite being a mere Form-four leaver with a certificate in hardware computer engineering from the now-defunct Kamata Computer Training College, Malimi’s reputation precedes him.
Customers frequent his workshop to fix their damaged computers, and everyone on the ground floor seems to know this popular computer engineer. Paschal proudly recounts the thrilling history of his journey, reflecting on the vibrant atmosphere and the trust he’s built in this dynamic city hub.
He began his career as an assistant to his brother Gaudioz Shiija, who established a computer training college in Kamata, Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam, in the year 2000. At that time, digital technology was still in its infancy in Tanzania. “By that time, there were not many laptops; the maintenance hinged more on desktops and outdated software, which are currently unavailable,” he recalls.
Malimi’s clientele is diverse, with many being university students. The major glitches he handles in their machines include issues with displays, hard disks, keyboards, mice, and worn batteries. “In case one leaves a computer with children, one is likely to face challenges where they press hard on the keyboards or spill water, which disturbs the entire machine inside,” he explains.
Malimi’s expertise is sought after even by prestigious institutions like the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) and the CRDB Bank. He notes that many IT experts at these institutions lack practical skills and experience.
“Oftentimes, when somebody tells you in an office to wait and chart the way forward on your machine after three or four days, mind you, they bring them to me for maintenance,” he says. “When you receive it from them, one might think it was done by experienced experts while in fact, they had outsourced the work to me.”
He observes that most graduates are good at theoretical skills but lack practical experience. “They come for jobs at my office, and in a very short period, I learn that they are unable to show talents. But with a week or two of instructions, they cope and work diligently,” he bemoans. Paschal criticizes the education system in Tanzania for focusing more on theory than practical skills, which hinders graduates’ ability to fit into the job market.
“I have employed several graduates in soft and hardware engineering. Under my tutelage, they make it along the way. They are very keen to follow my instructions when I receive them in the first place, they are mostly good at software and programming but not maintenance,” he says. “My most customers are concerned about hardware engineering because they come with damaged machines.”
Regarding employment, Paschal says he only has four permanent mechanics who are paid based on their daily jobs. Many others come to learn and then open their offices elsewhere. “I can collect over Sh 300,000 from customers, depending on how the day goes—I am widely connected to several offices in Dar es Salaam and upcountry.
“When I ask my employees to work on a certain machine and it gets fixed, I apportion a percentage of the amount collected and give it to them. Sometimes, I ensure they collect Sh 20,000 per day. If I am satisfied with their good job, they can collect even Sh 50,000 or more,” he notes.
Malimi not only deals with maintenance but also sells machines. “There are some companies which bring damaged computers and decide not to have them repaired and opt to buy new ones. Depending on the nature of the glitches, I pick them and resell them to others, from where I collect a lot,” he explains.
However, the job is not without challenges. Paschal pays over Sh 600,000 per month in rent to the National Housing Corporation (NHC). He finds this rent astronomical for a public building, arguing that the government should reduce the rent for business startups. He also faces frequent visits from the police searching for stolen machines.
“This disturbs my work schedules because they hardly listen to my concerns, equating me with many other thieves without evidence,” he laments. “The law enforcers think most hardware computer engineers are thieves, dealing in stolen machines. They do not respect our jobs, and mostly, we hardly appear smart in public because of the job nature, which puts even my assistants at risk.”
The taxman is another challenge for Malimi, as he collects huge amounts in total disregard of the business volatility. “Computer maintenance needs a lot of patience and prudence. One can bring a machine with one problem, say a keyboard issue, and then after opening it, a mechanic destroys the display. One challenge brings another along the way, and the blame game comes in,” he explains. “It needs wisdom when dealing with customers.
“One damage can cause many more damages while fixing up the machines. The computer owner would always attribute the new technical glitches to an engineer. You can fix up the machine and get assured it is okay, but it fails to turn on and show anything on the display.”
On acquiring spare parts in Tanzania, Paschal says it is easy because most machines have parts available in Kariakoo. However, modern computers pose a challenge due to their complexity. “Some machines are so complicated; the maintenance process is a headache.
One may find that the motherboards and sockets, and the Random Access Memory (RAM) are fused. If one of them gets damaged, one has to buy the whole system. For older computers, the RAM and socket were separated, and the SSD could be easily changed, but these days, you find a machine with all these tools fused into a blended system to the detriment of our job efficiency,” he says.
Looking to the future, Malimi plans to open a college if he collects enough funds. He would have developed the college left by his late brother, Gaudioz Shiija, but it was encumbered with debts amounting to Sh 30,000,000 from the taxman and financial institutions. “This challenge would plunge me into more troubles than prosperity,” he notes.
Paschal Vicent Malimi calls on the government to support business startups, especially in times of scarce jobs. His enterprise aims to create more jobs for the youth who frequently seek slots at his workshop. “It is time the government gave us loans to run our business. If possible, these loans should be concessional with little or no interest at all. Currently, even when one has started a business that has not flourished to bring profit, the taxman comes with huge demands, which plunge the entire project into failure,” he says.
In January 2023, the Tanzanian Ministry of Finance and Planning held the first-ever National Tax Dialogue themed “Policy Reforms for People’s Development.” Professionals and business leaders discussed tax issues, and Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba pledged “friendly tax policies.”
Malimi was impressed by the depth of the discussions and the government’s receptive attitude. “There is light at the end of the tunnel as far as the business environment is concerned,” he says.
As more African countries move towards enacting startup acts to promote entrepreneurship and innovation, Tanzania risks being left behind due to hesitation among stakeholders. The potential benefits of a startup economy—creating jobs, boosting innovation, and driving economic growth—are clear. Malimi highlights the importance of a startup policy to unlock this potential, especially for Tanzania’s large youth population.
Inspired by Gaudioz Shiija’s contributions, Paschal Malimi advocates for “special favors” for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), including tax exemptions. “These special favors should be extended to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, as well as startups. Startups hold immense potential to drive our economy forward,” he argues.
Tanzania stands at a crossroads. Nearly two-thirds of the country’s 62 million people are under the age of 24, presenting either a significant opportunity or a massive challenge. Various sources estimate that between 800,000 and 1 million young people enter the labor market annually, with over 50,000 graduating from higher-learning institutions without formal jobs waiting for them.
Malimi believes that with the right investments, the proverbial “demographic dividends” can become a reality for Tanzania. “A dividend is the result of your investments. If you invest well, you get results. But that doesn’t happen by itself,” says Ahmad Alhendawi, former United Nations youth envoy.
Malimi’s steadfastness and humility in the face of these challenges exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship needed to drive Tanzania forward. By supporting businesses like his, the government can help create a thriving startup ecosystem that provides jobs and fosters innovation. His story is a testament to the potential within Tanzania’s youth and the critical role of supportive policies in unlocking that potential.
