New boss of the skies: My mission is get us up again

Dar es Salaam. On first contact with Hamza Saidi Johari, one could be forgiven to think that he is an international interpreter. He is indeed a linguist. Johari is a bona fide Tanzanian who speaks fluent Kiswahili, English, Russian and Ukrainian. But he is no interpreter. He is your new aviation boss.

Johari was on Wednesday appointed the new Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) director general by Works, Transport and Communication minister Prof Makame Mbarawa.

A professional lawyer with vast experience in aviation, the man was, until his new posting, the executive secretary of the TCAA-Consumer Consultative Council. The 45-year-old replaced TCAA acting Director General, Mr Charles Chacha, who was suspended last month following discovery of massive financial and procurement irregularities at the authority.

On hearing his new appointment, Johari said: “I will not let down the minister. I was overwhelmed by the news (of his appointment).”

Johari, who is also a part time lecturer of international transport law at the University of Dar es Salaam, and an associate consultant in aviation and international law at the Arusha-based Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (Esami), said he had been dreaming of helping the country to tackle challenges facing air transport.

“We have a lot of challenges, but also an equal measure of opportunities in the air transport sector. My first priority is to make sure that the country’s air transport becomes vibrant,” said the father of three who was born in Mtwara Region on October 21, 1970.

He told The Citizen on Sunday that air transport, if well managed, could play an important role in contributing to the economy and subsequently enabling the country achieve its mission of acquiring the middle income status by 2025.

“I have not yet officially reported for work, but I think one of my challenges ahead would be to address the succession plan. We have seen the number of pilots and aircraft engineers getting older and older, creating a huge shortage. This situation should be addressed from the word go,” said the lawyer who boasts a 26-page curriculum vitae.

Among his traits, Johari loves to mix and mingle with people from all walks of life. He is tolerant, cheerful, creative, innovative, ambitious and energetic.

Between 2006 and 2013, he was engaged in consulting and research assignments, including a research on the border dispute between Tanzania and Malawi (over the Lake Nyasa) on international law issues to support arguments by the government of Tanzania.

During the same period, the lawyer articulated and developed rules of procedures for aviation regional consumer committees and a comprehensive consumer advocacy programme focusing on consumer education and training for animators.

He also formulated and developed the strategic plan concept (Vision 2013) of the TCAA-Consumer Consultative Council, a plan that took a long view of the Council and provided the roadmap for TCAA-CCC programmes and activities for 2008-2013.

He has also been a member and secretary of the national task force committee under the Ministry of Finance that undertook a review of direct taxes, indirect taxes and other challenges affecting the growth of the aviation industry in the country.

Johari is also a member of the Law Reform Commission Steering Committee reviewing regulatory laws of various sectors governing competition and consumer protection issues.

Before his new appointment, Johari has also worked as company secretary for the Arusha-based Ranger Safaris Tanzania Limited—a tour operator— between 2003 and 2006, legal manager for Tritel Tanzania Limited between 2001 and 2003, state attorney in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs between 2000 and 2001 and legal and research officer for Uridex and Partners law firm in the Republic of Ukraine between 1997 and 1999.

Between 1993 and 1998 Mr Johari earned a full scholarship with the government of Tanzania to undertake a Bachelor’s Degree in Law at the University of Kiev in Ukraine, and between 1999 and 2000 he earned a merit full scholarship from the of University of Kiev to undertake a Master’s of Degree in International Law.

He also possesses a certificate of aviation law for regulators and managers which he obtained at Singapore Aviation Academy in 2014, a certificate of management from the Administrative Staff College of India in 2010, a certificate on legal aspects of commercial aviation from Kampala International Law Institute in 2008 and a certificate on policy and legislative drafting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in April 2010.

In April 2009, Mr Johari was elected a Chartered Member of the International Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), incorporated by the Royal Charter 1929 in the United Kingdom, he is Board member of the Civil Aviation Training Centre Advisory Board, a member of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee, a member the East African Air Transport Facilitation Committee and a life member of the Administrative Staff College of India.

Between October 2006 and November 2006 Mr Johari visited Canada to study passengers’ rights and protection mechanisms, the Canadian air transport passengers’ protection systems and alternative dispute resolutions mechanisms and Canadian Transportation Act and civil aviation safety and security oversight activities.

And between May 2006 and June 2006 he went to Sweden to study the Swedish Civil Aviation Regulatory Safety and Security Oversight function and regulatory consumer protection mechanism and the Swedish complaints and dispute resolution machinery and mechanisms.

Between March 2004 and April 2004 the new TCAA boss went to Belgium to study risk management and compensations package in the transportation industry.