The government has been praised for investing TZS142 billion in the establishment of the Kilimanjaro Leather Products Factory, a strategic project expected to boost domestic manufacturing, create thousands of jobs and strengthen Tanzania’s industrial economy.
Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Welfare and Community Development made the remarks during an oversight visit to inspect the leather manufacturing facility in Moshi District, Kilimanjaro Region.
The factory, which started in 2017, is a joint investment between the Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF) and the Tanzania Prisons Service and forms part of the government’s broader strategy to promote value addition in the leather sector while reducing dependence on imported leather products.
Speaking during the visit on March 13, 2026, the committee’s chairperson, Hawa Mchafu, urged Tanzanians to embrace and prioritize locally manufactured goods, saying doing so would strengthen domestic industries and support national economic growth.
She said buying products made in Tanzania would expand markets for local producers, help reduce reliance on imports and increase government revenue through taxes, while also stimulating growth in the country’s production sectors.
Mchafu noted that projects such as the Kilimanjaro Leather Factory demonstrate the government’s commitment to industrial development and job creation.
According to her, once fully operational, the factory is expected to create about 3,000 direct jobs and approximately 4,000 indirect employment opportunities, a development she said will significantly improve livelihoods for many Tanzanians.
“The success of this project shows the importance of investing in local industries that utilize our available resources while creating employment for our people,” she said.
Earlier, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Labour, Employment and Persons with Disability, Deus Sangu, briefed the committee on the progress and performance of the project.
He said the factory has the capacity to produce up to 1.2 million pairs of shoes annually and about 2.1 million pairs of shoe soles each year.
In addition, the facility manufactures a range of leather products including belts, bags, wallets and jackets, with an annual production capacity of about 184,500 items.
Sangu said the factory’s performance has continued to improve, with sales rising steadily over the years.
According to him, the company’s revenue grew from Sh936 million in the 2020/21 financial year to Sh4 billion in the financial year ending June 2025, reflecting increased production and market demand.
Members of the parliamentary committee also commended the Prime Minister’s Office – Labour, Employment and Persons with Disability for its efforts in overseeing and promoting strategic investments that aim to expand employment opportunities and strengthen Tanzania’s economic base.
They said the development of such industries is crucial in advancing the country’s industrialisation agenda while empowering Tanzanians through job creation and local production.
