Tanzania, contrary to what some critics predicted following the brief period of post-election unrest in October 2025, continues to prove its resilience and commitment to learning from the past and forging a prosperous future for all Tanzanians.
In her New Year’s address, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stated that “as we enter 2026, the government has started steps to build national unity… The goal is to ensure that Tanzanians can resolve differences through dialogue, respect, and the rule of law”.
The address highlighted the role of the National Reconciliation Commission of Inquiry, established to ensure that those responsible for instigating the period of post-election unrest are brought to account, and that Tanzanians can voice their concerns and experiences from that period.
International jurist, ICC special advisor and Chairman of the commission, Chief Justice Othman Chande, added that the inquiry, “will leave no stone unturned”, further reinforced by the fact that it is comprised of globally respected experts. This speaks to the government cooperating fully to ensure that the facts are established and justice is served.
Just over two months since being announced, Tanzanians have been cooperative and receptive. The Commission arrived in regions including Mara and Arusha, with hundreds of people submitting evidence and offering their recommendations for desired government reforms, with an emphasis on youth development.
As a sign of sustained dialogue between the Tanzanian government and its people in fostering national growth, these recommendations have been listened to and acted upon. Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Ms Wanu Hafidh Ameir pledged that the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha will assist 50 students in applying for funding from top global universities.
Ameir added that the government will also continue strengthening training and innovative thinking to ensure that Tanzanians gain skills that meet the demands of domestic and foreign markets. This directly addresses the issue of unemployment, whilst also cementing the government’s commitment to preventing instability and building long-lasting prosperity.
Economically, the government has also demonstrated its willingness to pivot from deep-rooted past models of governance. Tanzania now welcomes foreign investment for the betterment of Tanzanians nationwide. This has included a £373 million investment by UK Export Finance (UKEF) for infrastructure upgrades to Pemba airport and Zanzibar’s roads, boosting Zanzibar’s tourism sector which accounts for nearly one-third of its annual GDP.
In addition, Tanzania has welcomed US investments, with President Samia recently announcing that three deals with the US, cumulatively worth $43 billion, are being finalised that will enhance Tanzania’s lucrative energy and mining sectors.
The largest of these projects, an LNG plant that will unlock 47.13 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposits, is expected to deliver multi-billion-dollar revenue annually. Meanwhile, the Tembo Nickel project will target the critical minerals industry and is expected to drastically increase Tanzania’s export earnings.
Lastly, the Mahenge Graphite project is one of the world’s largest high-grade graphite projects and will cement Tanzania’s reputation as a primary producer of battery-grade minerals.
More importantly, these projects will create hundreds of thousands of local jobs, and signal to investors that Tanzania is fully committed to a more consultatory and investor-responsive approach in achieving economic transformation.
Furthermore, the government’s non-aligned strategy is key in ensuring that Tanzania is poised to capitalise on these huge economic opportunities. Over 400 US companies currently operate in Tanzania, whilst the government has managed to secure a $1.4 billion Chinese investment to revitalise the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt which will facilitate farmers, traders and industries connecting to cross-border markets.
Crucially, Tanzania also seeks to benefit from domestic economic development projects. Central to the government’s goals of economic transformation, Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (DIRA 2050) emphasises inclusive growth and aims to elevate the country to an upper-middle income with a projected economy of $1 trillion within 25 years.
The President’s New Year’s speech reiterated that for DIRA 2050 to succeed, it requires buy-in from all Tanzanians. As part of this initiative, the government has already announced that Youth Investors Resource Centres (YIRC) will soon be established across the country to teach the youth valuable skills that they can apply to launching their own local businesses.
Tanzania is also providing regional and Africa-wide leadership, with its trade within the EAC and SADC tripling between 2004 and 2020, from $0.9 billion to $3 billion. With one of the largest gas reserves in East Africa, the country leverages this as a powerful soft power asset, increasingly positioning itself as a stabilising energy player whose input is vital in regional energy planning discussions.
Tanzania continuously demonstrates that it refuses to be perturbed by an isolated challenge to social stability. The government, through vast political and economic reforms, is showing Tanzanians nationwide that their needs are being prioritised.
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Daily Caller were not involved in the creation of this content.
