Qatar has deported 75 Tanzanian truck drivers after they failed to operate advanced heavy-duty trucks, highlighting significant gaps in digital competence among the recruits. The drivers, who were recently deployed to Doha for employment in the commercial transport sector, struggled to manage the modern, highly automated Volvo trucks used in the Gulf nation.
The recruitment initiative followed a March 2025 agreement between Tanzanian and Qatari officials to hire up to 350 drivers. A roadmap had been established, including coordination of driving assessments and training through both Tanzanian agencies and Qatari partners. However, the selected drivers, trained primarily on outdated manual trucks in Tanzania, were reportedly unprepared for the digital sophistication of the vehicles in Qatar.
Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo revealed that the drivers were overwhelmed by the trucks’ digital control systems, including GPS navigation and touchscreen panels. “The cabins resembled aircraft cockpits to them,” Kombo stated during a press briefing.
Despite graduating from the National Institute of Transport (NIT) and undergoing additional refresher courses, the drivers lacked the digital literacy needed to meet Qatar’s technical expectations. The incident has triggered broader concerns over Tanzania’s readiness for a digitized global labor market.
“This should be a wake-up call,” noted a senior education analyst. “We must reform our technical and vocational curricula to include modern digital skills.”
While Qatari officials are still expected to continue recruitment from Tanzania, the government now faces increased pressure to align its workforce training programs with international technological standards.
Written By Rodney Mbua
