Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) has called on the Government to strengthen economic empowerment policies that prioritize the participation of local citizens in major projects, warning that the country risks sidelining its people in its path toward economic growth.
Speaking at a press conference in Dar es Salaam on September 23, 2025, TCCIA President Vicent Minja said that while President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has successfully attracted investors, the next critical step is ensuring that Tanzanians themselves actively take part in strategic sectors.
“We commend the government for attracting investors, but the challenge remains the limited participation of Tanzanians in strategic projects. It is now crucial to establish legal frameworks that safeguard the interests of local citizens,” said Minja.
He noted that delays in government payments to local contractors have been a long-standing problem that weakens trust and slows down economic growth.
To address this, TCCIA has proposed the establishment of a payment guarantee system to ease financial pressure on contractors. Such a system would enable contractors to access loans from banks using government contracts as collateral, with repayments secured once payments are made.
Finance Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, while presenting the 2025/26 national budget to Parliament on June 12, 2025, acknowledged the vital role of contractors, suppliers, and service providers in nation-building.
He said the government had continued to settle verified debts, with Sh 1.01 trillion paid between July 2024 and May 2025.
“These payments have helped protect capital and stimulate economic activity across the country,” Dr Nchemba told lawmakers.
Minja added that Tanzania could learn from other countries that deliberately created strategies to ensure citizen participation.
He cited South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) program, which, despite its controversies, opened opportunities for historically marginalized groups to engage in sectors such as mining, finance, and public procurement.
“In Russia, the post-Soviet privatization process though unequal produced a class of local investors who reinvested in their country and influenced its economic direction,” he said.
TCCIA emphasized that prioritizing locals is not a crime but a legitimate economic strategy practiced worldwide.
“The private sector is the engine of the economy, and when protected, it continues to drive inclusive national development. A nation’s economy cannot be patriotic if its own people are excluded from opportunities,” Minja stressed.
The Chamber also recognized the progress made under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who since taking office in 2021 has worked to attract investors and reform policies that previously destabilized the business environment.
TCCIA Vice President for Industry, Abdul Mwilima, highlighted the Chamber’s role as a key advocate for local businesses by representing their interests in national policy debates and ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making.
He urged entrepreneurs, contractors, and service providers to join TCCIA, noting that collective representation strengthens bargaining power and provides members with access to vital networks, market information, and capacity-building opportunities.
“When we stand together as a well-organized private sector, we are better positioned to influence laws, resolve challenges, and create an enabling environment for business growth,” said Mwilima.