AGP Executive Report

Tanzania-Russia Diplomacy: President Samia Suluhu Hassan is in Russia for a three-day state visit, meeting Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin and expected to use the St Petersburg International Economic Forum to push trade and investment deals as ties warm further. SPIEF Under Fire: The “Russian Davos” opened amid Ukrainian drone strikes near St Petersburg, with reports of attacks on oil and military sites and flight disruptions, underscoring how geopolitics is shaping business access. Finance & Debt Watch: The government outlined budget priorities for 2026/27, including Sh15.1trn for debt servicing and monthly Sh100bn arrears clearance, while targeting 6.3% growth and single-digit inflation. Fuel Prices: Petrol prices fell to Sh4,086 per litre in Dar es Salaam, while diesel rose to Sh4,333 despite subsidies, reflecting Middle East supply pressures. Banking & Trade Finance: Access Bank signed a $500m IFC deal to expand local-currency financing, aiming to reduce exchange-rate risks for Tanzanian businesses. Roads for Trade: Tanzania is expanding the Tunduma border road to ease congestion and speed cargo movement from Dar es Salaam to Zambia and the DRC. Dodoma Climate Cooperation: Tanzania and Australia reaffirmed support for carbon monitoring capacity and community awareness to strengthen climate action and sustainable development. Sports & Business Spotlight: SportPesa highlighted major women winners totaling over Sh857m, while Tanzania’s innovators showcased tech to improve fishing catches.

Tanzania-Russia Diplomacy: President Samia Suluhu Hassan has arrived in Moscow for a three-day state visit, meeting Vladimir Putin and pushing cooperation on trade, tourism, minerals, higher education, science, ICT and investments, with SPIEF on the agenda. Economic Outlook & Debt: Tanzania targets 6.3% growth in 2026 while keeping inflation at 3–5% and strengthening foreign-exchange buffers; Finance Minister Khamis Omar also says the country serviced $3.9bn in maturing public debt by April 2026 and plans $5.69bn for 2025/26. SME Financing Push: At the Tanzania Impact Investment Forum in Dar es Salaam, stakeholders warned that up to 60–70% of new businesses fail within three years, citing the “missing middle” financing gap and urging better growth-capital access. Agriculture & Food Systems: WFP launched the IGNITE Challenge Tanzania 1.0, offering up to $40,000 for innovations in water-smart farming and nutritious complementary foods for young children. Dairy Expansion: TADB says its TI3P dairy project has reached 92,831 beneficiaries, supporting 23 milk collection centres and expanding processing capacity. Tax Compliance: TRA reminded VAT filers to submit May returns by June 20 and employers to meet June 7 deadlines. Business & Capital Magnet Sectors: Stakeholders at TIIF highlight agriculture, blue economy, technology and forestry value chains as top magnets for development finance, while financing constraints still bite SMEs.

Tanzania-Russia Diplomacy: President Samia Suluhu has departed for a state visit to Russia, marking only the second Tanzanian head-of-state trip since Mwalimu Nyerere’s 1969 visit, with talks expected to deepen trade, investment and cooperation as Tanzania moves toward Vision 2050. US Visa Overhaul for Africa: The United States plans to cut visa-processing locations across Africa from nearly 50 to 20 regional hubs, with Dar es Salaam named as one of the centres—meaning applicants may need to travel farther for interviews and biometrics. Finance & Trade for SMEs: The International Trade Centre and Equity Group signed an MoU to expand access to finance and trade expertise for East African businesses in coffee, leather and creative industries, starting with a Kenya pilot through December 2026. Child Online Safety: Tanzania is considering “Child SIM” cards to filter harmful content, after Parliament heard that many children aged 12–17 already use smartphones and some have faced online violence. Clean Cooking Push: A new push highlights Tanzania’s heavy reliance on charcoal and firewood, linking it to major respiratory deaths and promoting electric pressure cookers as a faster, cleaner alternative. Energy & Environment Coordination: Experts at the GEF Assembly urged Tanzania and peers to strengthen national steering mechanisms so environmental investments deliver lasting results.

Graphite Deal: Tanzania has formalised a 16% state stake in the Lindi Jumbo graphite mine through a joint venture signed May 28, with the mine already producing about 40,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate annually and creating 300+ jobs. Diplomacy: President Samia Suluhu Hassan is set for a historic three-day state visit to Russia (June 3–5) to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, mining, agriculture and tourism. EAC Politics: Three Tanzanian members—Kosato Chumi, Kambarage Wasira and Fatuma Kange—were sworn in as new East African Legislative Assembly lawmakers in Arusha on June 1. Ebola Watch: Africa CDC warns that lack of licensed vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain and intense cross-border movement could drive regional spread, with Tanzania listed among high-risk countries. Energy & Jobs: In Dodoma, Deputy Minister Salome Makamba urged women and youth to seize clean cooking opportunities, with 10bn/- set aside for research and innovation in 2026/27. Business & Power Costs: An AfDB report says 38.7% of firms in Tanzania own or share generators, reflecting the burden of unreliable electricity on operations and competitiveness.

EAC Ebola Response: East African health ministers are meeting in a special virtual session to coordinate action as the Ebola outbreak linked to the Bundibugyo strain spreads in the DRC and Uganda, with Africa CDC warning that lack of licensed vaccines and heavy cross-border movement could fuel wider regional transmission. Energy Youth Push: EACOP and TotalEnergies hosted the 4th Youth in the Energy Sector Students’ Conference in Arusha, bringing together over 200 students and energy stakeholders to discuss turning Tanzania’s energy resources into jobs and development. Vision 2050 Implementation: Tanzania will formally start implementing Vision 2050 on July 1, 2026, with flagship projects like LNG, Liganga–Mchuchuma, Kabanga nickel and Engaruka soda ash at the centre of the plan. Critical Minerals Move: Government acquired a 16% non-dilutable free carried interest in the Lindi Jumbo Graphite Project, boosting state participation in a key EV-battery supply chain. Dodoma Real Estate Boom: Dodoma is overtaking Dar in commercial property premiums, with rising office rents and near-full occupancy reshaping investor risk-and-return calculations. EALA Swearing-In: Chumi, Kambarage and Kange were sworn in as new East African Legislative Assembly lawmakers in Arusha, replacing members who moved to Tanzania’s Parliament. Banking Spotlight: NMB Bank CEO Ruth Zaipuna told a Cambridge audience that Tanzania’s banking model can help mobilise investment and expand financial inclusion across Africa.

Ebola Response: The EAC is convening an emergency virtual meeting of health ministers June 1–2 to coordinate a regional push against the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, focusing on surveillance, lab diagnostics, infection control and risk communication, with mobile labs and rapid response teams planned at border points. Drug Control: Tanzania is moving to tighten shisha regulation after findings that some users are mixing it with narcotic substances; the plan follows the presentation of the 2025 National Drug Situation Report in Dodoma, which also highlighted major drug seizures and arrests. Aquaculture Accountability: Residents in Lindi say they are still paying the price after failures of a major fish project, with land taken and promises not matched by results at the Nyengedi aquaculture site. Corporate Loss: Veteran corporate leader Leonard Mususa has died, with his long career spanning PwC leadership and board roles at major Tanzanian institutions including NMB and Stanbic Bank Tanzania. Tourism Services: TANAPA has rolled out redesigned entry permits across national parks to improve visitor tracking, reduce fraud and modernize park management. Business & Industry: Falcone Mining announced a 25-year mining joint venture in Tanzania for gold and rare earths, while Tanzania’s TBPL is being pushed to scale up organic fertiliser production and marketing.

Insurance & Finance: CRDB Insurance boss Wilson Mnzava was named Best CEO of 2025 at the ATI Bima Awards, with the insurer citing rapid growth on bancassurance—gross written premium rising from Sh26.9bn (2024) to Sh55.7bn (2025). Media & Governance: TCRA launched Season Two of the Samia Kalamu Awards to strengthen journalism standards, with a new category for reporting that covers specific sectors and a ceremony planned for Oct–Dec. Youth Innovation: Arusha Form Five students unveiled “Cyclo,” a digital marketplace linking waste producers, collectors and recyclers to boost recycling and cut pollution. Agriculture & Jobs: Tanzania’s dairy push continues as more smallholders access formal markets and services; Heifer Tanzania says it has reached 1.3m households. Local Politics: PM Mwigulu Nchemba ordered a review of laws governing deputy mayors and vice-chairpersons elections to reduce politics-over-service delivery. Industry & Trade: TBPL was directed to ramp up organic fertiliser production and marketing to meet demand, while Bagamoyo’s Sinovest Eco Maritime City project is set to start operations in June. Security & Justice: Tanzania says it seized over 1,074 tonnes of narcotics in 2025 and reports 28 Tanzanians arrested abroad, as anti-drug efforts intensify.

US–Tanzania Diplomatic Tension: Washington is pushing the dispute into a formal US Senate process, raising concerns about Tanzania’s democracy and political conduct and putting President Samia Suluhu Hassan under fresh international scrutiny. Local Governance Shake-up: Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has ordered a review of the law governing elections of deputy mayors and vice-chairpersons, saying the current setup distracts leaders from service delivery. EAC Budget in Focus: The East African Legislative Assembly will hold a special June 1 virtual sitting to debate the EAC 2026/27 budget of $110.9m, with a supplementary $4.8m also on the agenda. Integrity and Anti-Corruption Training: Integrity Watch Tanzania will run lifestyle audit and integrity risk management training in Morogoro from June 15–19 to help institutions curb corruption and misuse of public resources. Trade and Business Facilitation: Tanzania’s industry ministry has directed TBS to work with TRA to fix import permit system challenges tied to the TANeSW and TBS online systems. Investment Pipeline: Tanzania has identified 60+ investment projects worth over $2.85bn for presentation at an Arusha conference starting June 1, spanning tourism, fisheries, the blue economy and infrastructure. Ebola Watch: The DRC’s latest Ebola outbreak is intensifying, with border closures and new US funding aimed at expanding response capacity.

EAC Digital Integration: East African communications regulators met in Dar es Salaam to push a harmonised regional mobile roaming framework aimed at cutting cross-border charges and improving consumer protection. Environment & Enforcement: Tanzania’s Prime Minister launched the Tanzania Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (TOCEMS) under NEMC to strengthen real-time monitoring and tougher action against pollution. Youth Skills & Jobs: UNDP Tanzania signed MoUs with nine higher learning institutions to boost graduate employability, practical skills, innovation and career readiness. Fintech Expansion: Tanzanian fintech NALA secured $50m credit financing to expand global stablecoin-based payments and cross-border corridors. Regional Trade & Food Security: Zimbabwe and Tanzania moved to deepen tobacco and broader agricultural cooperation with structured MoUs under SADC as prices fall. Health Alert: Nigeria urged action as experts warn Ebola risk is spreading across Central and East Africa, with Tanzania listed among at-risk countries. Sports Development: Dodoma MPs praised President Samia’s sports investments after Serengeti Boys’ AFCON U-17 run and World Cup qualification. Clean Energy Focus: Investors are eyeing East Africa’s clean energy sector, but startups say financing access remains the biggest barrier.

EAC Connectivity Push: East African telecom regulators met in Dar es Salaam to agree a harmonised regional mobile roaming framework aimed at cutting cross-border communication costs and boosting trade and the Single Digital Market. Dodoma Politics & Sports: Parliament in Dodoma praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s sports investments after Serengeti Boys reached the AFCON U-17 final and qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, alongside other national team successes. Environment & Pollution Control: Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba launched Tanzania’s TOCEMS digital emissions monitoring platform to strengthen enforcement against polluters and improve environmental protection. Health Focus: New research highlights that starting kangaroo mother care immediately after birth can improve outcomes for premature and low-birth-weight babies, with implementation varying across hospitals. Finance & Payments: Tanzania’s BoT survey says households are increasingly using business income to repay loans, showing a shift from salary-only dependence. Urban Development: Government seeks investors for major redevelopment in Dar’s Msasani and Sinza under the Land Re-adjustment Programme, with a Sh210.26bn budget vote for 2026/27. Diplomacy: Tanzania reaffirmed ties with Algeria and Zambia as envoys presented credentials, while preparations continue for the Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers’ meeting.

Critical Minerals Push: Tanzania is being flagged as a new frontrunner in the race for critical minerals, with focus on graphite, nickel, copper, gold, uranium and other resources as demand rises for EVs and AI-linked technologies. Court Ruling on Chadema: Tanzania’s High Court dismissed a civil case challenging alleged unequal resource distribution within Chadema between Mainland and Zanzibar, striking it out over legal defects. Ebola Alarm in the Region: The DRC’s suspected Ebola cases have surged past 1,000, triggering tighter border controls across neighbours and renewed travel and screening measures. Energy & Industry: Rwanda and Tanzania signed an intergovernmental memorandum at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa, while Tanzania also signed graphite mining agreements with Lindi Jumbo under Ndovu Graphite Limited. Local Development & Jobs: Dodoma announced NACTVET admissions for 2026/27, and Musoma received Sh1.3bn for youth cage fish farming on Lake Victoria targeting 120 tonnes in seven months. Environment & Planning: Government plans dams along the SGR corridor to curb floods, and will verify boundaries of 226 villages to reduce land disputes.

Flood Control & Climate Resilience: Tanzania plans to build more than nine dams along the SGR corridor, with works starting in Morogoro, Mpwapwa and Dodoma, as the government links rising land pressure and urban growth to worsening floods. Road Accountability: Kahama’s road and drainage contractor will not get any extension of time, with Prof Riziki Shemdoe ordering completion within the contract schedule under the TACTIC project. Youth Jobs in Fisheries: Musoma receives over Sh1.3bn in soft loans for 40+ youths to set up Lake Victoria cage fish farming, targeting a 120-tonne harvest in seven months. Dodoma Education Access: NACTVET opens admissions for 2026/27 certificate and diploma programmes, with the first CAS window running May 28 to July 10. Public Trust in Policing: President Samia orders police to strengthen professionalism, discipline and early detection of emerging security threats. Land Administration: Tanzania will verify and update village boundaries for 226 villages in 2026/27 to reduce land conflicts. Ebola Alert (Regional): Ebola suspected cases in DR Congo pass 1,000, triggering border closures and renewed regional health pressure. Critical Minerals: Tanzania signs graphite mining agreements with Lindi Jumbo for Ndovu Graphite Limited, targeting about 40,000 tonnes annually for decades. Urban Renewal: A nationwide drive targets rundown areas in 35 towns to upgrade housing and infrastructure and attract investment.

Air Connectivity: Air Tanzania’s direct Dar es Salaam–Moscow flights are provisionally set to start July 2, three times a week, with a route also covering Zanzibar. Banking Leadership: Ugandan banker Herman Kasekende has stepped down as CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania, effective May 26, with Geoffrey Mchangila taking over. Diaspora & Finance: Tanzania’s diaspora remittances rose 57% to $1.27bn in 2024/25, as the Foreign Affairs ministry highlighted diaspora digital hub registration and service clinics. Public Finance & Roads: Tanzania secured $65m from the World Bank for TARURA to repair roads damaged by 2024 El Niño rains, with works targeting completion by September 2026. Water Access: Tanzania is finalising clean water services for 1,575 villages, with plans to expand capacity, use modern tech and attract private participation. Ebola & Borders: DR Congo’s Goma trade is hit as Rwanda tightens border controls amid Ebola fears, disrupting daily commerce. Education Equity: A new investigation warns Tanzania’s rapid expansion of English-medium schools is creating a two-tier public education system. Sports & Tourism: CAF says AFCON 2027 across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania could deliver major tourism and business gains.

Diplomacy & Sanctions: Tanzania’s MPs debated a US Senate bill that could trigger sanctions over alleged post–Oct 29, 2025 rights issues, with Foreign Affairs Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo saying Tanzania will respond through diplomatic channels. Diaspora & Finance: Tanzania’s diaspora remittances rose 57% to about $1.27bn in 2024/25, as the ministry highlighted diaspora clinics and a digital hub to boost investment and services. Education Under Pressure: A new investigation warns Tanzania is drifting toward a two-tier public education system as “English Medium” expansion sidelines Swahili-medium schools, raising constitutional concerns over equal opportunity. Digital Payments: Co-operative Bank and Paymenta signed a “Banking as a Service” pact, while Vodacom M-Pesa integrated PayPal transfers in-app. Transport Safety: Tanzania Railways Corporation rolled out Hi-Rail inspection units to improve SGR safety checks. Energy Costs in Zanzibar: Zanzibar President Mwinyi said Middle East conflict-driven fuel price hikes are hitting the economy and urged patience. Health & Travel: Ebola concerns continue across the region, with travel advisories and airport screenings in focus.

Humanitarian Education Boost: The LEGO Foundation has pledged $97 million over five years to the International Rescue Committee to use play-based learning for 5 million conflict-affected children across East Africa and the Middle East, with countries like Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Uganda under consideration. Tanzania Security Budget: Dodoma MPs heard the Home Affairs ministry is seeking Sh2.44 trillion for 2026/27, including hiring 10,919 new staff and upgrades to policing, cybercrime and anti-trafficking efforts. Regional Connectivity Push: The EAC is moving ahead with a harmonised mobile roaming framework to cut cross-border call costs, with Tanzania hosting technical talks. Health Science Update: Tanzania’s malaria elimination drive gets a boost as researchers map different parasite types to strengthen surveillance and tackle drug resistance. Sports Spotlight: Dar City face Petro de Luanda in a decisive BAL Game Two, while Tanzania’s Serengeti Boys set up a CAF U-17 semi-final against Egypt.

Ebola Alarm: Ebola screenings are ramping up at three major US airports as the outbreak spreads in Central Africa, with officials warning the situation could worsen and travellers from DRC, Uganda and South Sudan face fever checks and testing. Public Health Under Pressure: In DR Congo’s Ituri, attacks on Ebola treatment facilities and patients fleeing are adding chaos to an already resource-strapped response, while WHO and Africa CDC push for faster scaling up. Tanzania Policy Shock: Tanzania has banned the use of the US dollar and all foreign currencies for domestic transactions, making the shilling the only legal tender for local payments. Political Shifts: Analysts are watching a fresh wave of opposition returns as Joseph Selasini and Peter Msigwa rejoin Chadema, reigniting debate over the party’s resilience. Trade & Diplomacy: Tanzania’s economic diplomacy is credited in Parliament with boosting medical tourism and infrastructure links, while bean prices across East Africa show uneven pressure from March to April. Regional Security: Durban’s CBD crackdown led to arrests of 23 undocumented foreign nationals and closure of five shops amid immigration enforcement.