Category: The Citizen

Long-distance bus operators in Dar es Salaam face regulatory action for picking up or dropping off passengers outside designated terminals, the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) has warned.

Latra Acting Manager for Passenger Vehicle Regulation and Dar es Salaam Regional Officer Pateli Ngereza said the authority would enforce licence conditions requiring operators to use Government-approved terminals for the start and end of their journeys.

The warning follows a directive by Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila for upcountry bus operators to return to their designated terminals as part of measures to ease traffic congestion and improve the management of passenger transport in the city.

Mr Ngereza said the use of designated terminals was not a new requirement, but a condition already attached to bus operating licences.

‘Every bus we license is given a schedule showing the station where it should start its journey and the station where it should end. Operators are required to follow that arrangement,’ he said.

Under the existing arrangements, buses travelling to Dar es Salaam from the Northern, Central, Southern Highlands and Lake zones are required to terminate at the Magufuli Bus Terminal in Mbezi Luis.

Buses operating on routes from the Southern Zone are required to use the Mbagala Bus Terminal.

‘There is no other location that we have authorised for these buses to terminate their journeys. They are required to follow the conditions set out in their licences,’ Mr Ngereza said.

He warned that Latra would take action against operators who breach their licence conditions and approved schedules once the period given by the regional administration expires.

Mr Ngereza said enforcing the use of designated terminals was also critical for road safety because it enables authorities to conduct mandatory inspections before buses begin their journeys.

Latra works with other institutions responsible for road safety and passenger transport regulation to inspect buses before they leave for their destinations, he said.

‘These inspections cannot be properly conducted if buses are parked or operating from unofficial locations. The designated terminals are the places where these inspections are supposed to take place,’ he said.

He urged bus owners operating between Dar es Salaam and other regions to ensure their vehicles comply with the conditions of their licences, while calling on drivers and bus managers to cooperate with owners to restore operations to designated terminals.

Mr Ngereza said operators had been given sufficient time to reorganise their services and return to terminals constructed and designated by the Government for long-distance passenger services.

‘We are calling on all owners of buses providing services between Dar es Salaam and other regions to ensure their buses operate from the designated terminals. Drivers and managers should also cooperate with the owners to make sure the buses comply with the arrangements,’ he said.

The enforcement is expected to return long-distance bus operations to designated terminals while strengthening vehicle inspections, road safety monitoring and traffic management in Dar es Salaam.

As India prepares to celebrate its 80th Independence Day this Saturday, Indian School-Dar es Salaam (ISD) reflects the enduring friendship between India and Tanzania.

Established in 1978 in rented premises at Kisutu, the school has evolved into a modern and progressive institution functioning under the aegis of the High Commission of India and managed by a democratically elected Parent body, the School Managing Committee.

Today, it proudly serves students from diverse nationalities, fostering a vibrant environment that seamlessly blends academic excellence, technological advancement, cultural diversity, and holistic development. As the school looks ahead to its Golden Jubilee in 2028, Principal of the School, Mr Kunal Kohli, reflects on its journey and vision. The excerpts…

QUESTION: As India marks its 80th Independence Day, what does ISD represent in India’s progress and relationship with Tanzania?

ANSWER: ISD reflects India’s own journey. When established in 1978, we operated from rented premises at Kisutu with modest facilities. Today, we have advanced science laboratories, a comprehensive library, recreational facilities and technology-enabled classrooms.

India has transformed into one of the world’s leading economic and technological powers. Education has always been central to that progress. Our former students now hold important positions in global companies and institutions. Therefore, celebrating India’s Independence Day also means celebrating education, innovation and nation-building.

What has been the biggest transformation in the school’s journey? The transformation has been remarkable. A major milestone came in 2004 when our current campus was inaugurated by former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who strongly believed in education and young people.

Today, students learn in smart classrooms and soon have access to STEM laboratories and AI-supported learning. We are preparing children for a changing world.

What is behind ISD’s strong academic performance?

Everything begins with discipline. Even excellent resources cannot guarantee success without it. We invest in trained teachers and modern teaching methods. Our classrooms, serving students aged 3 to 18, are equipped with smart classroom technology and connected through Wi-Fi.

We are also incorporating artificial intelligence into learning. Year after year, our students achieve a 100 per cent pass rate in examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, India.

Success, however, is not only about results. We want students to leave with confidence, discipline, creativity and problem-solving abilities.

How does the school’s multicultural environment strengthen India-Tanzania relations?

This multiculturalism makes our school special. We exist because of the deep relationship between India and Tanzania and welcome students regardless of race, religion or nationality. Students learn multiple languages. We also incorporate Tanzanian culture into school life.

Every Monday, assemblies are conducted in Swahili and we sing the Tanzanian national anthem. This is unity in diversity. A child can learn Indian culture while becoming deeply connected to Tanzanian society. Cultures do not have to compete; they can grow together.

What role does ISD play in the wider Tanzanian community?

Education cannot end at the classroom. We are recognised among the boards accepted by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Tanzania, and work with the government and education partners to share best practices.

Our students also learn responsibility by engaging themselves in different social services like visiting orphanage, sharing meals, books and time with children. Supporting nearby schools. Such activities teach that privilege comes with responsibility.

How is the school preparing students for business and the world of work?

Entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in Indian culture, and we want students to experience business. We organise visits to companies and factories where students see how businesses operate. Some undertake holiday internships. The idea is to bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world. Wherever they work, we want them to leave with an entrepreneurial mindset.

How is ISD preparing students for AI and STEM?

Technology is central to learning. We are investing in STEM laboratories, and we already have smart boards, Wi-Fi connectivity and AI-supported learning. But technology should empower teachers, not replace them. Teachers understand children and provide guidance. We combine technology with teaching, discipline and values. We want students to become technology creators and innovators.

What does the school’s 50th anniversary in 2028 mean to you?

Fifty years is significant. Teachers, students, parents and communities have contributed to this institution. The anniversary should also make us think about the next 50 years. What will education look like? What skills will children need? These are the questions we must answer.

What is your Independence Day message to Indians and Tanzanians?

To Indians, we are the torchbearers of our nation in Tanzania. We must reflect India’s values through our behaviour and contribution. To Tanzanians, we are blessed to be among you. India and Tanzania share a relationship that goes beyond governments-it is a relationship between people, communities and generations. We must continue to stand together and progress together.

As Robert Frost wrote, we have ‘miles to go before we sleep.’ For ISD, those miles represent the next generation we must educate, the communities we must serve and the stronger relationship between India and Tanzania that we must continue to build. Our journey began in 1978, and the best chapters are still ahead.

Tanzania’s burgeoning blockchain community is setting its sights on Nairobi as the region prepares to host the Africa Blockchain Festival (ABF) 2026, a move expected to bridge the gap between Dar es Salaam and the broader continental tech ecosystem.

The timing of the event, scheduled for October 15 to 17 at the Sarit Expo Centre, aligns with significant domestic progress in digital asset management.

The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) has recently completed a comprehensive virtual-assets assessment and developed a regulatory concept intended to pave the way for formal oversight of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

This framework has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for further policy development, representing a critical step towards bringing virtual assets within a structured environment.

Tanzania has already established a Fintech Regulatory Sandbox and an anti-money laundering framework that recognises virtual asset service providers.

Against this backdrop, the ABF 2026 aims to catalyze local innovators.

‘What is happening in Tanzania is important. Regulation provides clarity, and clarity can give serious entrepreneurs, investors, and technology companies greater confidence to build,’ said the CEO of the Africa Blockchain Festival, Mr Olubunmi Fabanwo.

Highlighting the ease of access for local talent, Mr Fabanwo noted that Tanzanian innovators no longer need to look towards distant hubs like London or Dubai for global conversations.

‘We are bringing investors, policymakers, founders, and technology leaders to East Africa. For the Tanzanian blockchain community, Nairobi is next door,’ he added.

The festival, themed ‘Capital, Code and Continuity: Building Africa’s Permanent Digital Economy,’ will explore blockchain applications far beyond cryptocurrency.

Discussions will focus on practical solutions for digital identity, supply chain management, and cross-border payments.

The organisers believe this provides a unique platform for Tanzanian firms to scale their solutions.

‘We want to see founders from Dar es Salaam meeting investors from Lagos, developers from Tanzania exchanging ideas with developers from Nairobi, and Tanzanian companies showcasing technologies that could potentially scale across Africa,’ emphasised Mr Fabanwo.

The horn of the 111-year-old MV Liemba echoed across Lake Tanganyika over the weekend for the first time in more than eight years, signalling a new era for regional trade and transport.

Transport Minister Prof Makame Mbarawa led the first phase of technical trials for the newly rehabilitated vessel, marking the beginning of what the government describes as ’50 years of new voyages.’

The Sh34 billion rehabilitation, fully funded by the government of Tanzania, has transformed the historic ship from hull to bridge while meticulously preserving its heritage.

With the project now 97 percent complete, officials have confirmed that MV Liemba will resume commercial operations on September 1st this year.

Speaking on board the vessel, Prof Mbarawa explained that the trials are being conducted in two phases to ensure the ship meets international safety standards.

“The first phase of trials was conducted to test the basic systems after installation of new machinery,” he said, adding that a more comprehensive final phase is scheduled for August 19 to 21, 2026,’ he said.

He emphasised the vessel’s longevity, noting that with regular maintenance, it could serve for more than 80 years.

“The issue of MV Liemba was one of the matters that troubled us most in Parliament… Today I can tell the nation: it is complete,” he stated.

The project was led by the Dar-es-Salaam Merchant Group (DMG), a 100 percent Tanzanian-owned firm.

DMG director, Mr Rayton Kwembe, noted that the overhaul involved replacing all propulsion machinery, including engines and generators, while refurbishing passenger areas with new seating, bedding, and modernised dining facilities.

A key challenge was the restoration of the wooden interiors to protect the ship’s historical character.

“MV Liemba is a historical ship. You cannot just remove everything and replace it with steel… underneath, every pipe, every wire, every engine is brand new,” explained Mr Kwembe.

The ship revival is expected to significantly lower costs for traders who have struggled since the vessel was withdrawn from service.

A maize trader from Sumbawanga, Ms Rehema Juma, said transporting goods via truck and small boat currently costs Sh200,000 per tonne and takes three days.

“With MV Liemba, we can load directly from Kalambo and reach Kigoma in one night. That will save us money and time,” she said.

Fishermen from Karema, Katavi Region, Mr Ally Magesa, observed that without the ship, middlemen dictated prices, leading to losses.

“This ship is not just transport. It is our market. It connects us to buyers in three countries,” he said.

Women traders in Katavi have voiced frustration over rising passenger fares on small boats, which have become unaffordable for patients and students along Lake Tanganyika.

‘Taking a sick person to Kigoma hospital costs Sh80,000 in a small, risky boat. MV Liemba was safe and affordable. We hope it resumes soon,’ said Nsimbo resident, Ms Sophia Mwakalinga.

Residents added that the vessel’s return would reconnect separated families across the lake.

Once fully operational, MV Liemba will transport up to 600 passengers and 200 tonnes of cargo per trip.

Engineers confirmed the installation of modern radar, GPS, and radio communication systems, alongside new lifeboats, life jackets, and firefighting equipment to meet international standards.

The ship will run scheduled routes to Bujumbura (Burundi), Kalemie and Uvira (DRC), and Mpulungu (Zambia), reviving a vital trade corridor.

Government officials noted the project forms part of a broader strategy to establish Kigoma as a regional trade hub.

During an inspection of ongoing port expansion works, Prof Mbarawa emphasised the strategic goal.

‘The government is committed to opening up Kigoma and turning it into a regional business center. With an operational port, shipyard, and vessel, Kigoma will serve as a key trade gateway,’ he said.

Tanzania East Africa Gateway Terminal Limited (TEAGTL) has once again rewritten the record books at the Port of Dar es Salaam, by crossing the 90,000 TEU mark, another first in the history of Container Terminal 2 (CT2).

Handling 91,625 TEUs in July 2026, TEAGTL surpassed the previous record of 85,243 TEUs set in May 2026, reinforcing the strong growth trajectory of the terminal and demonstrating that the transformation underway at Dar es Salaam Port is delivering sustainable results.

The latest milestone is a testament to TEAGTL’s consistent focus on efficiency, customer-centricity, and technology. Sustained investments in capacity building, equipment, and systems, have helped enhance the container terminal’s productivity levels and boost service reliability for shipping lines, importers and exporters.

Central to this success has been TEAGTL’s unwavering commitment to its people. Recognising employees as one of the organisation’s core pillars, the company has invested extensively in learning and development, technical training and leadership programmes, thus making employees future-ready and building the maritime talent pool in Tanzania.

The terminal has also leveraged technology to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience. The deployment of a sophisticated Terminal Operating System (TOS) has been complemented by the introduction of digital tools such as Container Tracking and Live Vessel Schedules, which facilitate supply chain transparency, while the adoption of internationally recognised best practices such as the Fixed Berthing Window (FBW) system has provided further impetus to this transformative journey.

The cumulative benefits have translated into greater schedule reliability, improved berth utilisation and reduced vessel waiting times – which manifests in superior customer experience and enhances Dar es Salaam port’s position as a preeminent Gateway to East and Central Africa.

Improved port performance is helping accelerate cargo movement, strengthen regional connectivity, reduce logistics costs and support the Government of Tanzania’s long-term vision of positioning the country as a leading regional maritime and logistics hub.

The achievement also contributes directly to the national priorities of facilitating trade, attracting investment, promoting industrialisation and driving equitable economic growth.

Congratulating TEAGTL on the achievement, Mr Plasduce Mbossa, Director General of the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), said:

“I congratulate TEAGTL on breaking their own throughput record from just 2 months back, by surpassing the 90,000 TEU mark; a historic first in the history of the Container Terminal 2 and the port of Dar es Salaam.

This outstanding achievement is a strong validation of the Tanzanian Government’s vision for trade-driven economic development and TPA’s success in executing that vision, which is now rapidly delivering tangible gains in the Tanzanian ports sector.

The significance of these achievements transcends beyond mere numbers, and reflects our shared commitment and accelerated progress towards creating a world-class ports ecosystem.’

Commenting on the achievement, Capt. Jeyaraj Thamburaj, Chief Executive Officer of TEAGTL, said:

“For TEAGTL, as the operator of the largest container handling facility in Tanzania, surpassing the 90,000 TEU milestone is a proud moment.

More importantly, it demonstrates that our recent record performances are not exceptions but the continuation of a sustained trend, whose foundation is operational excellence, continuous improvement and a relentless focus on our people and customers.

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to every member of the TEAGTL family for their dedication and steadfast efforts, to the TPA for their support, and to our customers for the trust reposed in us. We are confident of achieving more milestones in the months and years to come.”

The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGZ) has launched a capacity-building programme in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity to equip public servants and citizens to navigate rapid global technological change.

Under the initiative, the Ministry of Communications, Information Technology and Innovation signed a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Emerson Education Institute to train an initial cohort of 600 officials, with each class limited to 50 participants.

Speaking after the signing ceremony on Sunday, August 16, 2026, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and Innovation, Mr Mudrik Ramadhan Soraga, said Zanzibar must keep pace with technological change.

He said RGZ was creating a conducive environment to harness technology to improve government efficiency, enhance public services, drive innovation and accelerate the digital economy.

‘In realising this ambition, we acknowledge that systems, infrastructure and hardware alone are insufficient. We also require experts and personnel equipped with skills matching the pace of technological advancements,’ said Mr Soraga.

He stressed the ministry’s commitment to developing ICT human resources, particularly in fast-growing fields such as AI and cybersecurity.

‘We face diverse challenges, including system hacking, phishing, data theft, credential misuse and other threats capable of impacting the government, businesses and citizens,’ said Mr Soraga, adding that skilled professionals are essential for identifying, preventing and mitigating threats.

He further said AI can transform data analysis, improve productivity, streamline tasks, support evidence-based decision-making and foster innovation across the public sector.

Emerson Education director, Mr Faizan Majidhusain, said the partnership reflected a shared vision of preparing Zanzibar’s workforce for the digital economy.

He stressed that the goal went beyond issuing certificates to providing practical skills for productive AI use among civil servants, ICT specialists and youth.

‘Emerson Education stands ready to leverage its experience in professional training and digital skills to assist the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar in building a workforce equipped for digital demands,’ said Mr Majidhusain.

The director of Cybersecurity and Data Protection, Mr Khalfan Mohamed Othman, said technological progress introduces new security vulnerabilities, making continuous skills development vital for operational safety.

‘Through this partnership, we expect to see enhanced professional expertise, cybersecurity awareness, proper AI adoption and innovation in public service delivery,’ said Mr Othman.

The completion of Fumba Port in Zanzibar is expected to boost trade, expand the tax base, and increase government revenue, with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) planning to install a modern cargo scanner to facilitate faster and more efficient inspections.

TRA Commissioner General Yusuph Mwenda said the authority would install the scanner at the port to improve cargo inspection whilst facilitating the movement of goods entering Zanzibar from different parts of the world.

Mr Mwenda made the remarks on Saturday, August 15, 2026, during his tour of Zanzibar, where he visited Fumba Port and inspected the ongoing construction of the modern facility.

He said the completion of the port would provide TRA with an opportunity to increase revenue collection, which would contribute to financing government operations and development projects.

‘The construction of Fumba Port will further open up Zanzibar economically. Once completed, the port will have the capacity to handle a large number of containers,’ said Mr Mwenda.

He said the scanner would help speed up cargo clearance, facilitate trade, and broaden the tax base, particularly given the large volume of cargo expected to pass through the port once it becomes fully operational.

Mr Mwenda also said TRA would continue engaging taxpayers through visits and consultations to identify and address challenges affecting their businesses promptly.

For his part, Zanzibar Ports Corporation director general, Mr Akif Ali Khamis, said upon completion, Fumba Port would have the capacity to handle approximately 40 containers per hour, equivalent to between 250,000 and 400,000 containers per month.

He said the port would have a length of 350 metres on each side by February 2027, a development expected to improve port operations and increase cargo volumes.

Mr Khamis said the construction of the port was being implemented through cooperation between the government and the private sector.

He welcomed TRA’s decision to install a modern scanner, saying the investment would help increase government revenue and support the implementation of development projects.

He added that port users would also benefit from the facility because they had previously been forced to use ports in neighbouring countries before transporting their cargo to Zanzibar.

Zanzibar Customs Brokers Association (ZFB) chairman, Mr Omar Hussein Mussa, said traders in Zanzibar were ready to cooperate with TRA to help the authority exceed its revenue collection targets for the 2026/27 financial year.

Mr Mussa urged TRA to continue addressing challenges faced by traders, saying timely resolution of tax and business-related issues would encourage voluntary tax compliance and broaden the tax base.

‘We have no problem with paying taxes, and we have always cooperated with TRA by paying taxes voluntarily and presenting the challenges we face,’ said Mr Mussa.

Simba SC made a winning start to their Mainland Tanzania Premier League campaign yesterday after defeating Kagera Sugar 2-0 at Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba.

The victory puts Simba among the early winners after the opening round of matches, with the club immediately signalling their intention to challenge for the title this season. Simba broke the deadlock shortly before half-time when Ismael Olivier Toure headed home in the 45th minute following a well-delivered corner from Libasse Gueye.

The visitors maintained their advantage after the break before Ellie Mpanzu doubled the lead in the 71st minute following a well-worked attacking move. Kagera Sugar tried to respond, creating pressure as they searched for a way back into the contest, but Simba’s defence remained organised and disciplined. South African defender Rushine De Reuck played a key role in keeping the hosts at bay as Simba dealt with Kagera’s dangerous attacks to secure maximum points.

The result gives Simba an encouraging beginning to their league campaign as they look to mount a strong challenge for domestic honours.

Defending champions Young Africans (Yanga) also started their title defence with a victory, beating Namungo FC 3-1 away from home.

Singida Black Stars recorded the biggest victory among the opening-round winners after defeating Fountain Gate FC 3-0, while Mashujaa edged Coastal Union 1-0 away. Geita Gold FC also began with a victory, beating Mbeya City 1-0 on the road.

Several established teams, however, were unable to collect maximum points. Azam FC were held to a 1-1 draw by Polisi Tanzania, while Pamba Jiji FC also shared the points with Dodoma Jiji FC after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. The opening round has therefore produced an early indication of a competitive campaign, with Simba and Yanga among the teams expected to fight for the title.

The first round of matches was scheduled to conclude last night when JKT Tanzania hosted TRA United.

Simba will now turn their attention to their next league assignment as they seek to build momentum from their positive opening result and maintain pressure on their domestic rivals.

A Page 1 story on Bongo’s senior-most broadsheet is carrying a story whose headline reads, ‘PM: Sugar surplus now within reach,’ and therein, the scribbler writes in his intro: ‘Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has said Tanzania is on course to eliminate the sugar supply deficit as local factories expand production capacity, paving the way for the country to ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND GENERATE SURPLUS FOR EXPORT.’

We skip two paragraphs, then we read Para 4 in which our scribbling colleague writes: ‘Dr Mwigulu said increased investment and expansion of sugar factories provided a strong indication that the country would soon ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND GENERATE SURPLUS FOR EXPORT.

Need we explain why we have put in capitals sections of the two paragraphs we cite above? Well, let us do it.

The reason is, we are bugged by the monotony! In case the scribbler felt a great need to reiterate in Para 4 what the PM is reported as saying in Para 1, rephrasing would be apt so as to avoid blatant monotony.

Below is our suggested rewrite: ‘Dr Mwigulu said increased investment and expansion of sugar factories provided a clear indication that the country would soon BE PRODUCING MORE THAN ITS DOMESTIC REQUIREMENTS AND BECOME AN EXPORTER OF THE SWEETERNER.’

We move to Page 3 where the lead story reads: ‘Tanzania, Eswatini pledge stronger economic ties.’

In Para 3 of the story, the scribbler pens, ‘During a private meeting with King Mswati III…Ambassador Hamad conveyed greetings and goodwill from President Samia and reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to further strengthen the HISTORIC, friendly and brotherly relations between the two nations.’

We have noted it in this space before, let us repeat it: Something ‘historic’ is that which has happened today and we are certain it will, for certain, be remembered thereafter, perhaps for ever and ever!

Then, ‘historical’ is something that happened-or has been there in the past-and still remembered and cherished to date because of its significance.

Like the good and amicable relations that has been there even before independence between the people of Eswatini and those of Tanzania. These are HISTORICAL relations.

And now, some linguistic gemstones from Page 6 of Bongo’s huge and colourful broadsheet of Monday, August 10.

In this one, there is a story entitled, ‘NGO partners with journalists to combat ongoing child marriage in RURAL villages.’

Hello! A ‘village’, by its very nature, is located in a ‘rural area.’ You indulge in tautological nonsense if you qualify it with ‘rural.’ Which is to say, the headline chief should have simply penned, ‘…in villages’ or ‘…in rural areas.’

In Para 5 of this human interest story, our colleague reports further: ‘Despite ongoing efforts by the government…child marriage continues to occur in secret…Many girls are withdrawn from school and FORCED into marriage WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT…’

When you say ‘forced into marriage without consent,’ you are overtly suggesting that a young woman can be coerced while, at the same time, agreeing (consenting) to becoming some crooked man’s wife. Nonsensical, isn’t it?

Which is to say, our fellow scribbler’s sentence should have ended with, ‘…and FORCED into marriage.’ Period! However, if you are keen on verbosity, you may say: ‘…Many girls are withdrawn from school, then GET married WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT…’

Finally, colouring this page is a photo whose caption reads: ‘Stephen Michael, director of production and marketing at the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, briefs journalists FOR Tanzania’s plans to become a net milk exporter, with expected exports valued at US$231 million…’

Hello! Mr Michael was not briefing journalists ‘for’ Tanzania’s plans to become this or that; rather, he was briefing journalists ON Tanzania’s plans to…

Ah, this treacherous language called English!

Tanzania has just closed a chapter that I spent years watching from the inside, one policy shift at a time. Under the Foreign Exchange (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, the Bank of Tanzania has opened Treasury bills and Treasury bonds to non-resident investors of any nationality, not only those from the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, or the Tanzanian diaspora, who previously held exclusive access to this market.

More than a decade ago, I led a benchmarking exercise on Tanzania’s compliance with the EAC Treaty and the Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Common Market, with a specific focus on the free movement of capital.

What that exercise found was a capital market that did not honour its regional obligations. Tanzania then added the EAC and SADC residency requirements which gave the appearance of regional openness, while the underlying market remained, in practice, tightly held by Tanzanians and a narrow band of regional and diaspora participants.

Watching that market widen, cautiously and in stages, over the following ten years has been one of the more instructive lessons I have had in how capital account liberalisation unfolds in this region. It rarely arrives as a single dramatic reform. It arrives as a sequence of smaller ones that eventually cross a threshold.

This amendment crosses that threshold. Non resident investors, regardless of nationality, now access Treasury bills and Treasury bonds through approved Central Depository Participants and the Bank of Tanzania’s Central Depository System, the same infrastructure used by domestic banks, brokers and diaspora investors before them.

The reform follows the central bank’s earlier move to market determined bond coupon rates, adopted at the end of 2024 to improve price discovery, a precondition that matters more than it might first appear.

Foreign capital tends to avoid markets where pricing is administered rather than discovered. Tanzania removed that obstacle before opening the door, not after.

The timing speaks to a broader fiscal reality. Domestic debt currently makes up close to 30 percent of Tanzania’s total debt stock of just over $50 billion, and until now, retail and foreign holders together accounted for a modest share of that.

As Tanzania moves into the implementation phase of Vision 2050, and as budget financing becomes less reliant on concessional development assistance and more dependent on a mix of domestic revenue, market borrowing and blended finance, a shallow, closed government securities market becomes a genuine constraint.

Widening the investor base is not merely a technical fix to a funding gap. It is a structural requirement for a country that intends to finance its own long term development ambitions rather than borrow them from donors.

There is a currency stability dimension too, and it deserves equal weight. A broader base of non resident holders of shilling denominated government debt creates another channel through which foreign currency enters the economy, easing pressure on the exchange rate and deepening liquidity in the domestic bond market. Analysts have been quick to frame the reform in these terms, and they are right to. However, it is worth stating plainly that opening a market and deepening a market are not the same achievement. The regulation creates access. It does not, on its own, create demand.

Whether this reform delivers the capital inflows Tanzania is counting on will depend on execution that has, in other reform episodes, lagged the ambition of the policy itself: how efficiently Central Depository Participants onboard new foreign clients, how predictably the tax treatment of non resident bondholders is applied, and how consistently regulatory intent is honoured at the operational level once the initial announcement fades from the headlines.

Tanzania has, to its credit, been more disciplined on this front in recent years than it was a decade ago.

However, sophisticated institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and development finance institutions among them, will watch implementation as closely as they watched the announcement itself.

For investors evaluating East African fixed income exposure for the first time, or reconsidering it, this reform deserves attention beyond the headline. It is not the end point of Tanzania’s capital account liberalisation, and it should not be read as one.

It is, however, the clearest signal yet that Tanzania intends to finance its next phase of growth on more diversified terms, and that the market it is offering access to is no longer the closed one I first worked on a decade ago.