The Tanzanian government has rolled out a new policy barring non-citizens—including Nigerians—from participating in at least 15 categories of small and medium-scale business activities across the country, in a move aimed at safeguarding local economic interests and addressing rising unemployment.
According to The Guardian, the directive, titled The Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025, was signed by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Selemani Saidi Jafo, and took effect on July 25, 2025. It mandates that licensing bodies across Tanzania stop issuing or renewing business licenses to foreigners intending to operate in the restricted sectors.
“This order is a deliberate step to ensure that sectors traditionally accessible to locals remain preserved for Tanzanians,” Jafo said in a statement released on Monday. “It reflects the government’s broader commitment to economic inclusion and employment for citizens.”
Among the affected sectors are retail and wholesale trading (excluding supermarkets and specialty stores), mobile money operations, tour guiding, small-scale mining, mobile phone repair, hairdressing salons not attached to hotels, real estate and business brokerage, cleaning services, and operating gambling machines outside casino premises.
The decision comes on the heels of growing complaints from Tanzanians, particularly in urban markets like Kariakoo in Dar es Salaam, where locals claim that foreign nationals—especially Chinese traders—are taking over economic spaces that have traditionally been reserved for indigenous businesses.
One market vendor in Kariakoo, who spoke under anonymity, welcomed the move. “Our businesses have suffered. Foreigners come with more capital and lower prices, driving us out of the market,” she said. “It’s high time our government put citizens first.”
In response to concerns about how the new directive may impact existing foreign-run businesses, the Ministry has yet to provide clarity on whether a grace period or exemptions will be offered to current operators.
Despite approval from local business groups, the policy has drawn mixed reactions internationally, with some observers warning that it could dampen foreign investor confidence and strain diplomatic relations.
Tanzania now joins a growing list of African countries—including Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Botswana—that have taken similar protectionist measures to reserve segments of their economies for citizens.
“This isn’t just about economics. It’s about national identity and reclaiming ownership of our markets,” said a representative of a Tanzanian traders’ union, reacting to the announcement.