The revival of the Kilimanjaro Machine Tools Company (KMTC) signals a renewed push by the government to rebuild Tanzania’s long-neglected industrial capacity.
Once considered a strategic plant for manufacturing spare parts and providing engineering solutions, the factory had remained dormant since the 1990s, leaving industries dependent on costly imports.
Through an investment of TSh 4.07 billion, President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration has not only restored the facility’s infrastructure but also repositioned it as a cornerstone of the local manufacturing ecosystem.
The upgrades—ranging from a furnace with a 500-kilogram melting capacity to galvanizing plants, modern bending and cutting machines, and renovated factory blocks—represent a deliberate effort to modernize Tanzania’s industrial base.
Initial production figures point to encouraging progress. Since reopening, KMTC has produced 47 machines and 132 spare parts, generating TSh 323.4 million in sales.
More significantly, the factory has become a dependable supplier to major domestic industries such as TPC Sugar, Tanzania Breweries Limited, Kili Leather, sisal processors, and commercial flower farms.
By reducing reliance on imported spares, the facility is expected to cut foreign exchange outflows and strengthen industrial resilience.
The revival of KMTC remains as part of a broader industrial recovery agenda that aims to revive dormant assets, create jobs, and boost value addition in the economy.
While the plant’s current output remains modest compared to its potential, its strategic relevance lies in the role it plays in supporting other industries to remain productive and competitive.
The challenge ahead will be scaling up production, maintaining consistent quality standards, and ensuring that KMTC remains commercially viable in an increasingly competitive market. Yet the symbolic weight of its revival, after nearly three decades of stagnation, underscores the government’s determination to reposition manufacturing at the heart of Tanzania’s economic transformation.