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The government has stepped up measures to strengthen the national weights and measures system through improved inspection services, modern equipment, and intensified enforcement against illegal agricultural packaging practices commonly known as “Lumbesa.”
The initiative, implemented through the Weights and Measures Agency (WMA), is aimed at protecting farmers, traders, and consumers by ensuring that all business transactions are conducted using accurate and legally approved measurement standards.
The Minister for Industry and Trade, Judith Kapinga, told Parliament in Dodoma on May 22, 2026, while presenting the ministry’s budget for the 2026/27 financial year, that the government is committed to ensuring fairness in trade across the country.
She said the government has continued to strengthen WMA operations by improving working systems, increasing inspection capacity, and expanding services to more regions.
As part of this expansion, the ministry has begun the process of constructing new WMA offices in Lindi and Songwe regions.
By April 2026, design work and architectural plans had already been completed, while the government is now preparing to invite tenders for contractors to begin construction.
Officials say the new offices will bring inspection services closer to citizens, especially in areas experiencing rapid economic and agricultural growth.
In addition to infrastructure development, WMA has upgraded its operations through the purchase of modern equipment and digital tools to improve efficiency in inspections and verification of measurements.
The new equipment includes 35 laptops, 28 desktop computers, two scanners, and 20 multifunction printers.
The agency has also acquired advanced technical tools such as digital thermometers, electronic balances, flow meters, proving tanks, and specialised equipment for checking weighing scales and fuel pumps.
The government says the investment will improve service delivery and enable inspectors to reach more traders and consumers, including those in remote areas.
At the same time, the government has intensified its crackdown on illegal packaging practices known as “Lumbesa,” where agricultural produce is packed beyond the legally allowed weight limits.
Under the Weights and Measures Act, Chapter 340, packaged agricultural produce must not exceed 100 kilograms, with an additional allowable tolerance of five percent.
The law also requires traders to use weighing scales that are verified by WMA at least once every year.
However, authorities have noted continued violations by some traders, resulting in losses for farmers, transporters, and buyers due to unfair measurement practices.
To enforce compliance, WMA carried out special inspections in the regions of Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Tanga, Pwani, Morogoro, Mbeya, Iringa, and Njombe.
A total of 2,500 vehicles transporting agricultural produce were inspected during the operation. Of these, 2,419 vehicles were found to be compliant with regulations, while 81 were found violating the law by carrying over-weighted packages.
Offenders were immediately fined and instructed to repackage their goods in accordance with legal requirements.
The government has also expanded access to inspection services by establishing 5,050 temporary verification centres in wards, villages, and streets across the country.
These centres are designed to bring services closer to citizens and reduce the need for long-distance travel to access verification services.
In addition, several local government authorities, including Mpanda, Kasulu, and Kibondo councils, have begun drafting by-laws requiring the use of certified and verified weighing scales in agricultural trade.
The government says these measures are part of a broader effort to build a fair, transparent, and well-regulated trading system that protects citizens and promotes trust in the economy.
