The Tanzanian authorities has banned Kenyans and different overseas nationals from partaking in 15 enterprise actions historically dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises.
The transfer is aimed toward defending native entrepreneurs and reshaping the nation’s home financial coverage.
The directive, issued by way of Government Notice No. 487A dated July 28, 2025, stipulates that licensing authorities shall not challenge or renew enterprise licenses for foreigners to function within the specified sectors.
Foreigners at present licensed in any of the affected sectors will solely be allowed to function till their permits expire.
“The enterprise actions specified within the Schedule to this Order shall not be carried out by non-citizens,” mentioned Tanzania’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Selemani Saidi.
“Upon coming into impact of this Order, licensing authorities shall not challenge or renew a licence for a non-citizen to hold out any of the enterprise actions prohibited below this Order.”
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Tanzania Bans Foreigners from Running Select Businesses
Violators of the order face stiff penalties. Non-citizens discovered conducting prohibited companies could also be fined at least 10 million Tanzanian shillings, withstand six months in jail, and threat deportation by way of visa and allow revocation.
Tanzanian residents who assist foreigners in evading the ban could also be fined 5 million shillings or jailed for as much as three months.
“Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (2), an individual commits an offence if in case of a non-citizen, such particular person carries out any of the enterprise actions specified within the Schedule to this Order and upon conviction shall be liable to a high quality of not lower than ten million shillings or imprisonment for a time period not exceeding six months and revocation of visa and resident allow,” the discover learn additional.
“In case of a Tanzanian citizen, such particular person assists or aids a non-citizen to hold out any of the enterprise actions prohibited below this Order and upon conviction shall be liable to a high quality of 5 million shillings or imprisonment for a time period not exceeding three months.”
Some of the companies prohibited for foreigners embody wholesale and retail commerce (excluding supermarkets and specialised product shops), small-scale mining, cellular cash transfers, and possession of radio and tv broadcast stations.
The authorities additionally barred foreigners from working playing machines—besides inside on line casino premises—and from working as tour guides, actual property brokers, and clearing and forwarding brokers.
15 Business Ventures Foreigners Can’t Operate in Tanzania
The affected companies embody:
- Wholesale and retail commerce (excluding supermarkets and specialised shops)
- Mobile cash transfers
- Mobile cellphone and digital machine repairs
- Salons (besides in inns or for tourism)
- Cleaning companies
- Small-scale mining
- Postal and parcel supply companies
- Local tour guiding
- Operation of radio and TV stations
- Museums and curio store operations
- Brokerage or company in enterprise and actual property
- Clearing and forwarding companies
- On-farm crop buying
- Gambling machine operations (outdoors casinos)
- Ownership and operation of micro and small industries
The prohibition comes amid complaints from some Tanzanians that foreigners, together with Chinese nationals, are doing enterprise meant for locals, comparable to retail sale of products on the Kariakoo market within the industrial hub of Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania now joins a rising checklist of African nations, together with South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, Swaziland, Zambia, and Botswana, which are ring-fencing sure enterprise actions for his or her nationals.
