Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is stepping into a critical phase of its digital transformation as the government moves to strengthen its ICT systems ahead of becoming a fully digital nation by 2030. Central to this renewed drive is a new ICT Ranking system, designed to measure annual progress across institutions and regions, spotlight gaps, and push for accountability in the country’s shift towards a digital economy.

The initiative aligns with Tanzania’s long-term vision-Dira 2050- which positions ICT as one of the country’s core pillars for economic growth, job creation and global competitiveness. Under this vision, the government seeks to build a digitally driven nation powered by local innovation, reliable infrastructure and a strong cybersecurity ecosystem.

Communication and Information Technology Minister Angela Kairuki, who announced the ranking system during a working visit to the ICT Commission on December 3, said the government intends to use data to guide policy and strengthen digital governance. “We want every institution to know where it stands, what it has achieved and what must be improved,” she said.

“This ranking will create healthy competition, enhance accountability and accelerate the adoption of digital technologies across all sectors.” According to Ms Kairuki, the country is now focused on expanding broadband availability, fast-tracking ICT hubs in schools, colleges and communities, and boosting the capacity of young innovators.

She added that cooperation between the government, the private sector and development partners is crucial if Tanzania is to build resilient systems capable of supporting a full digital transition. “The digital economy cannot grow in isolation.

We need strong partnerships, we need investment, and we need innovation,” she noted.The ICT Commission’s Director General, Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, briefed the minister on ongoing initiatives, including the development of Swahili Large Language Models and advanced proposals for the Africa AI Centre–a hub expected to position Tanzania as a regional leader in artificial intelligence.

He said the new ranking system will help institutions pinpoint weaknesses in infrastructure, cybersecurity and digital literacy. “This framework allows us to measure progress scientifically,” Dr Mwasaga said.

“It gives leaders a clear picture of where to allocate resources and how to strengthen digital resilience.” ICT experts say the government’s push will widen opportunities for local professionals, developers and private firms.

According to technology analyst George Mwijage, the ranking system will force institutions to source solutions locally and increase demand for Tanzanian-made software and ICT services. “When gaps are exposed, institutions will need local innovators to solve them,” he said.

“This is how you stimulate the domestic tech industry. It creates jobs, builds skills and reduces reliance on expensive foreign solutions.

” He added that the system could help the country nurture a stronger tech ecosystem if governments and institutions commit to buying local. “Tanzania has brilliant young developers and cybersecurity experts.

When government systems become more complex and digital, demand for local expertise naturally increases,” he said. With cybercrime rising globally, experts believe that a structured digital assessment framework will help Tanzania bolster its national security and protect public data from hackers and sophisticated attacks.

Cybersecurity researcher Asha Mlyashimba said Tanzania’s growing digital footprint requires stronger vigilance. “You cannot go fully digital without fully protecting your systems,” she said.

“The ICT Ranking will force agencies to prioritise cybersecurity, conduct regular audits and strengthen internal controls. This is essential in safeguarding public information.

” She added that modern threats require governments to operate with real-time intelligence, advanced encryption and robust digital policies–areas where Tanzania has already begun making strategic investments. Defining Tanzania’s digital future Tanzania’s ambition to become a digital nation by 2050 requires major reforms in infrastructure, governance and digital skills.

The government sees the ranking system as a catalyst–one that will guide investment decisions and help the country move from analogue processes to modern, data-driven decision-making. ICT policy expert Dr Benedict Mwakalinga said the move signals a shift towards serious digital governance.

“You cannot manage what you cannot measure,” he said. “This framework tells us that the government wants to measure progress, enforce standards and make digital performance a national priority.

” Dr Mwakalinga argued that introducing annual rankings could dramatically reshape institutions. “It introduces discipline,” he said.

“It rewards innovation, penalises inefficiency and pushes everyone; ministries, councils and agencies to modernise.” As Tanzania accelerates its digital agenda, the government believes that empowering young people with skills, promoting innovation and strengthening local systems will be key pillars of its transformation.

.

Arusha. Former Prime Minister and Chairman of the President’s Advisory Council on Food and Agriculture, Mizengo Peter Pinda, has called on research institutions to strengthen the role of science, technology and innovation in agriculture to increase national revenue and improve food security.

Mr Pinda made the remarks while officially opening the Fourth Annual General Meeting and Seminar of the Crop Science Association of Tanzania (CROSAT), held under the theme: “Advancing Climate-Resilient Crop Productivity through Sustainable Soil and Water Management.” The seminar supports government initiatives such as the Agricultural Sector Development Programme Phase II (ASDP II) and the AMP 10/30 Agenda.

Highlighting the sector’s contribution, he said agriculture directly generated Sh214.4 billion in tax revenue during the 2023/24 fiscal year, mainly from export taxes. “These revenues could grow significantly, potentially double or triple, if our research institutions strengthen the application of science, technology, and innovation in the sector,” he said.

Mr Pinda stressed that sustainable soil and water management is vital for productivity and food security. “The government continues to invest in irrigation, soil fertility management, and climate-smart technologies, especially for smallholder farmers.

You too should enhance technology and innovation to support these efforts,” he urged. Citing recent achievements, he noted that 65.6 percent of Tanzanians are directly engaged in agriculture, with food crop production rising from 17.1 million tonnes in 2021/22 to over 20.4 million tonnes in 2022/23–a 19 percent increase.

He also highlighted government support for research, with S0.73 billion allocated to the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), enabling the development of 64 new technologies to boost productivity and resilience. “Science and innovation must not remain confined to laboratories or documents–they must reach the fields to increase productivity and improve livelihoods,” Pinda said.

CROSAT Chairperson, Prof Kallunde Sibuga, called on Pinda to serve as the association’s patron to advance its objectives. Meanwhile, Professor Joseph Ndunguru, Director General of the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), highlighted that more than 580 million people in Africa depend on agriculture, yet the sector contributes only 25 percent to the continent’s GDP.

.

Washington. U.

S. President Donald Trump gathered the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda to sign a peace deal in Washington on Thursday even as fighting continued in their war-scarred region.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi affirmed commitments to an economic integration compact agreed last month, and to a U.S.

-brokered peace deal reached in June. They were also due to sign an agreement on critical minerals.

The signing handed Trump the latest in a series of made-for-television diplomatic victories, in this case one at odds with the bloody situation on the ground. Washington wants access to a spectrum of natural resources in Congo and is scrambling globally to counter China’s dominance in critical minerals.

“We’re settling a war that’s been going on for decades,” Trump said. “They spent a lot of time killing each other, and now they’re going to spend a lot of time hugging, holding hands, and taking advantage of the United States of America economically – like every other country does.

” Sitting before a “Delivering Peace” backdrop at a peace institute that his administration unofficially renamed after Trump, the African leaders signed and exchanged documents with the U.S.

president. “Thank you for putting a certain name on that building,” Trump told Secretary of State Marco Rubio, adding that it was a “great honor.

” As the leaders signed, clashes between Rwanda-backed M23 rebels and the Congolese army were reported throughout South Kivu province. A spokesperson for M23 accused government troops of bombing several civilian areas.

M23 seized the two largest cities in eastern Congo earlier this year, raising fears of a wider war. Analysts say U.

S. diplomacy has paused the escalation of fighting but has failed to resolve core issues.

A White House official said the deal signing “recommits the parties to the peace process” and reflected “months of intensive diplomacy led by President Trump, who made it clear to both the DRC and Rwanda that the status quo was unacceptable.” Clashes in Congo continue The Republican U.

S. president has been eager to burnish his diplomatic credentials.

Since he returned to office in January, Trump has intervened in conflicts from the Middle East to Ukraine and beyond. He’s also presided over splashy deal-signing ceremonies from Kuala Lumpur to Sharm el-Sheikh.

Those efforts have brought mixed results: a long-sought Gaza deal, but also criticism that he should focus on domestic, cost-of-living concerns instead. Voters give Trump low marks on his handling of the economy.

Ahead of the signing on Thursday, the president’s name was added to a sign outside the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, a Congress-founded nonprofit his administration tried to seize control of earlier this year. Who controls the institute is now the subject of a legal battle.

The peace agreement may not change the humanitarian crisis on the ground. Congo’s army and M23 accuse each other of violating existing ceasefire agreements.

At a news conference in Washington on Wednesday, Congolese official Patrick Muyaya blamed M23 for recent fighting and said it was “proof that Rwanda doesn’t want peace.” M23 did not attend the meetings in Washington.

It is not bound by the terms of the Congo-Rwanda agreement and is participating in separate, Qatar-mediated talks with Congo. Denis Mukwege, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for helping Congolese sexual-violence victims, said the deals were driven more by the scramble for minerals than by a genuine effort to end bloodshed.

“For me, it is clear that this is not a peace agreement,” he said in Paris. “The proof: this morning, in my native village, people were burying the dead while a peace agreement was being signed.

The M23 continues to seize territory.” Rwanda denies backing M23. Kigali has said its own forces have acted in self-defense against ethnic Hutu militiamen linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when more than 1 million people were killed.

United Nations experts said in July that Rwanda exercises command-and-control over the rebels. M23 says it is fighting to protect ethnic Tutsi communities in eastern Congo.

The rebel group’s advances mark the latest episode in ethnic rivalry in Congo’s eastern borderlands with Rwanda, the source of conflict for three decades. Two devastating wars in the African Great Lakes region between 1996 and 2003 cost millions of lives.

The latest cycle of fighting has killed thousands of people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Trump aides are looking to facilitate billions of dollars of Western investment in a region rich in tantalum, tin, tungsten, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals.

Under the Trump-backed agreement, Congo would need to crack down on an armed group opposed to M23, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. Rwanda would need to withdraw its forces from Congo.

Little apparent progress has been made toward either pledge since June. “We have seen countless mediations and efforts, but none has succeeded in resolving the underlying issues,” said Kagame.

“President Trump introduced a new and effective dynamism that created the space for breakthroughs.” Tshisekedi called the deal a “turning point.

” .

By Joanne Mwita Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Start-up Association (TSA) has revealed a bold roadmap to accelerate the country’s innovation ecosystem, positioning Tanzania as a hub for high-potential ventures and investment.

TSA CEO Zahoro Muhaji described the organisation as a unifying platform for key players across the start-up ecosystem, with the goal of creating an environment where innovation thrives and contributes meaningfully to national socio-economic development. Over the next five years, TSA plans to deepen its focus on policy advocacy, talent development, and access to finance, while fostering stronger collaboration across institutions.

Muhaji highlighted TSA’s productive partnership with the government, pointing to recent measures including tax incentives from the Tanzania Revenue Authority, digital government initiatives, and the fintech regulatory sandbox launched by the Bank of Tanzania. “These steps reflect a growing recognition of the vital role start-ups play in driving innovation and economic diversification,” he said.

Investment attraction remains a key focus. Muhaji emphasised Tanzania’s potential as a destination for both local and international investors, noting that events such as Tanzania Start-up Week have become crucial platforms for networking, deal-making, and showcasing promising ventures.

“We want investors to see Tanzania not just as a consumer market but as a source of scalable, innovative businesses,” he explained. Sectors such as fintech, agritech, and software-as-a-service are emerging as growth hotspots, reflecting broader African trends.

Muhaji also stressed the importance of academia, with universities and research institutions playing a key role in producing a skilled, start-up-ready workforce and bridging the gap between education and industry. TSA continues to champion inclusion.

While 21 percent of Tanzanian start-ups are led by women–a figure above the United States’ 17 percent–Muhaji acknowledged more progress is needed. Initiatives include gender-focused programmes, as well as support for youth and entrepreneurs with disabilities, aiming to create a more equitable and accessible ecosystem.

Highlighting the sector’s growth, Muhaji pointed to rising start-up registrations, a surge in foreign direct investment from $1.8 million in 2020 to $56 million last year, and over $300 million attracted over the past five years. The emergence of angel networks and local venture funds, including Walioma Ventures and Serengeti Angels Network, alongside growing corporate sponsorship, marks a shift towards sustainable, homegrown support.

Yet, speed remains critical. Muhaji warned that slow decision-making, whether by start-ups, regulators, or investors, could slow Tanzania’s rise as a competitive innovation hub.

Concluding on an optimistic note, he compared Tanzania’s current ecosystem to the early stages of tech powerhouses such as India and Israel. “Growth is a long-term journey, but with sustained commitment, Tanzania is poised to become a globally competitive start-up nation,” he said.

.

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) has launched advanced smart meters that allow electricity units to be loaded remotely, eliminating the need for customers to rush home to top up tokens.

The new meters provide continuous power supply and improved service reliability. The rollout follows 18 years of research, testing, and system upgrades aimed at modernising electricity delivery.

The devices store up to 13 months of consumption data, alert users when electricity is low, detect incorrect payments, and display precise information on consumption patterns. They also include anti-tampering features and can guide technicians in diagnosing faults.

Energy Minister Mr Deogratius Ndejembi said the meters will simplify operations for households and businesses. “Installation is already underway nationwide.

Tanesco must distribute these meters quickly, meet international safety standards, and update the system annually to maintain global standards,” he said. Tanesco Director-General Mr Lazaro Twange added that the meters isolate faults to affected segments only, preventing widespread outages.

“Customers generating electricity from alternative sources can use what they need and sell the surplus directly to Tanesco,” he said. Permanent Secretary Mr Felichesmi Mramba said the new meters will reduce electricity losses from 13 per cent to single digits and allow technicians to locate power outages immediately, improving response times and service efficiency.

“This digital upgrade transforms Tanzania’s energy sector and strengthens electricity production and distribution nationwide,” Mr Ndejembi concluded. .

Dodoma. The Tanzania Police Force has prohibited demonstrations allegedly scheduled for December 9, 2025 across the country, stating that they lack the legal authorisation required to take place.

According to the police, no letter has been submitted to or received by any District Police Commissioner’s office notifying them of the intended demonstrations. The decision follows reports of unlimited peaceful protests being promoted through social media.

On December 2, 2025 the police identified twelve matters that are reportedly being organised online ahead of December 9, 2025 warning organisers and promoters of acts that could disturb public order to desist, or face legal consequences. This repeated emphasis by the police on urging citizens to refrain from actions that disrupt peace comes after President Samia Suluhu Hassan addressed the nation, outlining how the government remains prepared at all times to manage criminal activity.

.

Minneapolis. People of Somali origin are among those arrested in an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, federal officials said on Thursday, two days after President Donald Trump hurled insults at immigrants from the Horn of Africa country and said he wanted them out of the United States.

The Minneapolis arrests began on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security said in its first statement on the operation. Officials did not give a total arrest figure but gave profiles of 12 people apprehended, five of them from Somalia, the rest from Mexico and El Salvador.

In the statement, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin portrayed them all as dangerous criminals with convictions ranging from fraud and vehicle theft to criminal sexual conduct and driving under the influence. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, has strongly criticized Trump’s attacks on the city’s Somali population and on Thursday called on Americans to “love and respect” Minnesota’s Somali immigrant community, which is the largest in North America.

Trump’s racist rhetoric against Somalis, and attacks on Minnesota politicians who defend them, has been applauded by his allies. On Tuesday, during a televised cabinet meeting, he reacted to reports of government fraud among pockets of Minnesota’s large Somali population by calling immigrants there “garbage” and saying he wanted them sent “back to where they came from.

” Anti-immigration rhetoric was a major part of Trump’s campaign. Since taking office in January he has overseen aggressive operations by masked federal agents across the country in a bid to drive deportations to record levels.

Along the way, Trump’s public language when speaking about immigrants has grown harsher. Crackdown in new orleans Also on Thursday, federal officials said they had arrested dozens of people in New Orleans, another Democratic-run city.

On day two of the New Orleans operation, protesters disrupted a city council meeting to demand councillors declare city property “ICE Free” zones where federal immigration agents could not stage operations. Protesters accused federal agents of indiscriminately targeting people of color, including U.

S. citizens, with no criminal record, an allegation the Department of Homeland Security denies.

New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno said in a statement, opens new tab on Wednesday the operation had created a culture of fear among the city’s most vulnerable residents. “We must do what we can to protect New Orleans and ensure due process is followed for all of our residents,” she said, announcing an online portal for citizens to report abuse from federal immigration officers.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, has supported federal immigration enforcement efforts. .

Dar es Salaam. The Government of Tanzania has acknowledged a series of statements issued over the past week by various development partners and foreign governments regarding the events of October 29, 2025, saying it has taken note of the concerns raised.

In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, the government confirmed that it is aware of remarks made by a wide range of partners, including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union Delegation, Finland, France, Ghana, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, as well as the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United States of America, and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation. According to the statement, the government expressed particular concern about the tone and content of some of the international comments, noting that these came despite a candid engagement between the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation and members of the Diplomatic Corps during a meeting held on November 28, 2025. The Ministry emphasised that while Tanzania recognises the role of the international community in supporting democracy and political development, it is equally important for partners to consider the steps the government has already taken–specifically highlighting the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the post-election violence.

The Commission’s report, the statement noted, is expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the October 29 events and guide future constructive engagement between Tanzania and its partners. “Tanzania remains committed to constructive international cooperation for peace and development,” the release read, calling on all stakeholders to allow national mechanisms to proceed with implementing measures already initiated by the government.

The government further reassured development partners of its ongoing willingness to engage on issues of mutual interest, stressing that such cooperation should be grounded in mutual respect and equality. .

Dar es Salaam. The Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has arrested two lovers after they were allegedly found in possession of a new and highly dangerous batch of narcotics believed to be used in criminal activities due to their ability to induce deep sleep, erase memory and heighten physical stimulation.

This is Tanzania’s first recorded seizure of 738 tablets of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), weighing 177.78 grammes, and 24 tablets of Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), weighing 10.03 grammes. Rohypnol is a powerful sedative widely known for its misuse in serious crimes.

The suspects, Cuthbert Kalokola, 34, and Murath Abdallah, 19, were arrested at Sinza D in Dar es Salaam during a DCEA operation acting on intelligence information. DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo said on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 that Kalokola was the first to be apprehended and he later led officers to Murath.

Mr Lyimo said Kalokola directed investigators to the house where Murath was staying. During questioning, it emerged that the drugs belonged to him, but both were held because they were living together.

Ms Murath claimed she did not know the substances were narcotics, telling officers that Mr Kalokola had said they were painkillers. Mr Lyimo urged young women to exercise caution in relationships where they are unaware of their partners’ activities, noting that Ms Murath frequently ran away from home to stay with someone deeply involved in drug trafficking.

Commissioner Lyimo further revealed that Mr Kalokola admitted smuggling the drugs from the United Kingdom, where he previously lived and became linked to drug networks. He allegedly transported consignments through Kampala, Uganda, then into Tanzania via unofficial border routes.

After dropping off packages in Kampala, they were moved to the border, where motorcycle riders smuggled them through footpaths to avoid inspection before delivering them to him inside Tanzania. “These drugs can cause deep sleep, memory loss, high blood pressure and even heart attacks.

They are highly addictive, and some people misuse them believing they enhance sexual performance,” he said. He said that Mr Kalokola is suspected of supplying clients in high-end hotels, with some users deploying the substances to commit crimes including fraud and sexual assault.

“Even a small amount slipped into a drink can render someone unconscious, placing women at particular risk,” he warned. In separate operations, more arrests were recorded.

At Mbezi Maramba Mawili, the DCEA arrested seven suspects, Jaribu Tindwa (38), Ally Meshe (39), Juma Mfamo (20), Rahim Nampanda (28), Abubakari Ally (20), Nurdin Rashid (36) and Farid Rashid (33), after seizing 90 kilogrammes of cannabis (skunk) hidden inside solar-panel tanks loaded onto a bus travelling between Tanzania and Malawi. At the Kasesya border in Rukwa, another suspect, 26-year-old Godwin Andrew, was arrested with 244.3 kilogrammes of skunk concealed in speakers, air-cooling machines, lawn cutters and computer CPU casings.

The shipment was being transported in a South African-registered Iveco van operated by Makamua Logistics Limited. In a separate development, the High Court Division of Corruption and Economic Sabotage has ordered the forfeiture of assets valued at Sh3.3 billion.

The assets, four houses, six plots and 11 vehicles, belonged to Saleh Basleman and Gawar Fakir, and were proven to be proceeds of drug trafficking. The confiscation was effected under the Proceeds of Crime Act (Cap 256), the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act (Cap 200), and the Drug Control and Enforcement Act of 2015. Mr Lyimo said the court order followed extensive investigations confirming that the properties were acquired through drug-related activities.

He stressed that asset forfeiture remains essential in the fight against organised crime, noting that imprisonment alone cannot deter offenders. “Taking away illegal gains prevents criminals from benefiting from their unlawful activities,” he said.

.

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s agribusiness sector is entering a pivotal moment as exporters tap into one of the world’s largest and most dynamic consumer markets in China.

From cashew processors in Mtwara to avocado growers in the Southern Highlands and seaweed farmers along the coast, producers are increasingly positioning their products for Chinese buyers whose demand for African agricultural goods continues to rise. Experts say China’s recent decision to provide zero-tariff access to nearly all African countries has created a more level playing field for exporters looking to expand their footprint.

For Tanzania where agriculture accounts for almost 30 percent of GDP and supports millions of livelihoods, this shift presents a strategic window for growth. According to the Head of Agribusiness at Stanbic Bank, Benifrida Tarimo, Tanzanian producers are becoming more export-oriented and better prepared to meet stringent market requirements.

“We are seeing agribusinesses enhance their processing standards, invest in certifications and adopt more market-driven production approaches. The China market rewards consistency and quality, and Tanzanian exporters are rising to that challenge,” she said.

Across China’s major cities, demand for niche and health-conscious foods continues to expand, she said. “This has placed Tanzanian commodities such as organic honey, seaweed, cashew kernels, and specialty coffees in a favourable position.

” Exporters report that the Chinese market prefers traceable products with clear branding and added value, factors that local producers are increasingly adopting. Experts say seaweed, which is grown along Tanzania’s coastline, has particularly strong prospects.

Chinese buyers use it for food processing, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Producers in Zanzibar and coastal Tanzania say inquiries have risen sharply.

“We have seen a steady increase in Chinese interest, especially for high-quality dried seaweed,” notes trader based in Pemba, Juma Ali. “Our biggest hurdle has been scaling supply and meeting certification requirements, but the opportunities are undeniable,” he added.

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) has become a crucial marketplace for African agribusinesses. The platform allows exporters to showcase their products, study market preferences and connect directly with buyers.

Recent experiences from South African rooibos tea producers and Ugandan coffee exporters, who secured multimillion-rand contracts after participating in the expo, underscore the potential. As Standard Bank’s CEO for Business and Commercial Banking, Bill Blackie, observed: “Platforms such as CIIE create an opportunity for SMEs to amplify their growth.

This is where possibility meets reality as businesses secure new partnerships and access global buyers.” Tanzanian exporters participating in recent expos say the events have been instrumental in helping them understand packaging preferences, flavour profiles and branding strategies required for Chinese consumers.

While global demand is rising, the journey from farm to export market remains demanding. Many producers must navigate challenges related to logistics, certification, and financing.

This has increased the need for integrated export-support systems that can help agribusinesses meet the scale and quality demanded by foreign markets. Ms Tarimo noted that financing remains a crucial ingredient for growth.

“Exporters need capital that matches the agricultural cycle-from production and storage to shipment. Access to trade finance, working-capital loans and advisory support is helping businesses match China’s volume requirements,” she explained.

There is also a wider push for value addition within Tanzania. Cashew processors are expanding local shelling facilities, coffee cooperatives are improving washing and grading systems, and honey producers are upgrading extraction and packaging equipment.

“The goal is to move beyond raw commodities and enter the higher-value segments that Chinese buyers increasingly demand,” said Ms Tarimo. Despite the optimism, the China market is not without hurdles.

Exporters cited three key challenges: the need for faster logistics connections, the complexity of phytosanitary requirements, and price competition from other countries supplying similar products. Agricultural economist Prof Aidan Kwayu said the opportunity remains strong but requires coordinated investment.

“China is a vast market, but penetration requires consistency. Tanzania needs to strengthen its cold-chain capacity, improve certification processes, and support farmers with modern production techniques,” he said.

He added that regional blocs such as the EAC could jointly negotiate on standards and logistics to strengthen competitiveness. Cashew regions such as Mtwara and Lindi already report improved incomes due to growing demand from Asia.

Similarly, avocado cooperatives in Njombe and Iringa are scaling up production specifically for the Chinese market. “What we are witnessing is a structural shift.

Exporters are no longer responding to demand, they are actively positioning themselves for it. China offers scale, and Tanzanian agribusinesses are ready to grow,” Ms Tarimo said.

As Tanzania sharpens its export strategies and as market links strengthen through cross-border platforms like CIIE, the country stands poised to capture greater value from its agricultural potential .