By Kennedy Nalyanya
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – Tanzania's Minister for Trade, Selemani Saidi Jafo, has announced stringent new regulations that prohibit non-citizens from operating certain businesses within the East African nation. The "Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025" aims to reserve specific commercial sectors for Tanzanian citizens, a move that has drawn diverse reactions, particularly from neighboring Kenya.
Under the new directive, licensing authorities are explicitly barred from granting or extending licenses to non-citizens for a range of specified business activities. Minister Jafo stated that the measure was a direct response to concerns from Tanzanian citizens who feel that foreign nationals are displacing them from business opportunities and contributing to the country's unemployment rate.
The Tanzanian government has outlined severe penalties for non-citizens found flouting the new regulations. Those found guilty face a minimum fine of TSh 10 million (approximately KSh 495,000), a jail term not exceeding six months, and the immediate cancellation of their visa and residence permit.
"If found guilty, a non-citizen who engages in any of the commercial activities listed in the schedule to this order faces a minimum fine of ten million shillings, a maximum sentence of six months in jail, and the cancellation of their visa and residence permit," Minister Jafo emphasized.
Furthermore, Tanzanian citizens who aid non-citizens in engaging in these forbidden commercial activities could face a fine of up to TSh 5 million (approximately KSh 247,500) or potentially three months in jail.
Reserved Business Sectors
The businesses that President Suluhu's government has now exclusively reserved for Tanzanian citizens include a broad spectrum of commercial activities. These are:
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Retail and wholesale sales of goods, with exceptions for supermarkets, specialty stores, and wholesale hubs for regional manufacturers.
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Mobile money transfers.
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Repair of technological gadgets and cell phones.
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Salon operations, unless conducted for tourism purposes or within a hotel.
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Home offices and environmental cleanliness services.
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Small-scale mining.
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National postal operations and package delivery.
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Domestic tour guiding services.
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Radio and television establishments and operations.
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Running cultural stores or museums.
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Clearing and forwarding services.
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Real estate and business agencies or brokerages.
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Buying crops directly from the farm.
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Possession or use of gaming machines or equipment, excluding those found on casino premises.
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Ownership and management of small and micro-enterprises.
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