Tanzania President Samia Suluhu
The Tanzanian government has officially prohibited foreign nationals—including Rwandans—from engaging in a wide range of small- and medium-scale economic activities, triggering fresh concerns about the country’s commitment to regional integration under the East African Community (EAC).
In a directive signed by Minister for Industry and Trade, Selemani Saidi Jafo, and dated July 25, 2025, non-citizens are barred from participating in at least 15 sectors of the economy.
The list includes commonly practiced trades such as mobile money transfers, salon businesses, and the sale of goods on a wholesale and retail basis.
Also banned are activities like repair of mobile phones, parcel delivery, tour guiding, brokerage in real estate, and the establishment of radio and TV stations, among others. Exceptions are made only in specific cases, such as salons operating within hotels or for tourism purposes.
According to the directive, the measure is aimed at protecting Tanzanian citizens’ access to business opportunities and encouraging domestic enterprise in sectors deemed sensitive or easily accessible to locals.
However, the move directly contradicts the spirit of the EAC Common Market Protocol, which upholds the free movement of goods, labor, services, and capital among member states, including Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, the DRC, and Somalia.
The Protocol seeks to eliminate restrictions that prevent citizens of one partner state from working or doing business in another.
The directive could strain intra-regional relations and may attract scrutiny at the EAC Secretariat.
Rwandan and other EAC entrepreneurs who have established small businesses in Tanzania may now face forced closures, job losses, or even expulsion.
This is not the first time Tanzania’s economic policies have drawn criticism for appearing inward-looking.
In past years, the country has imposed protective tariffs and import bans, often to the dismay of regional partners.
As of press time, there had been no official response from the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the EAC Council of Ministers.
However, the matter is expected to feature prominently in upcoming regional meetings.
BUSINESS ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED FOR NON-CITIZENS
| S/N | TYPE OF ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| 1. | The business of sale of goods on a wholesale and retail basis, excluding supermarkets, specialised product outlets, and wholesale centers for local producers. |
| 2. | Mobile money transfers. |
| 3. | Repair of mobile phones and electronic devices. |
| 4. | Salon business unless the business is conducted in a hotel or for tourism purposes. |
| 5. | Home, office and environmental cleanliness. |
| 6. | Small-scale mining. |
| 7. | Postal activities and parcel delivery within the country. |
| 8. | Tour guiding within the country. |
| 9. | Establishment and operation of radio and television. |
| 10. | Operation of museums or curio shops. |
| 11. | Brokerage or agency in businesses and real estate. |
| 12. | Clearing and forwarding services. |
| 13. | On-farm crop purchasing operations. |
| 14. | Ownership or operation of gambling machines or devices, except within casino premises. |
| 15. | Ownership and operation of micro and small industries. |
