By Charles Mkoka
DAR ES SALAAM, June 29 – Tanzania has placed Personal Data Protection at the centre of its digital transformation agenda, with PDPC urging for stronger privacy safeguards to building an inclusive and trusted digital economy ahead of the country's Vision 2050 goals.
The message came as the country opened its first-ever national conference on privacy and personal data protection in Dar es Salaam on Monday, bringing together government officials, technology experts, regulators, legal professionals and private sector stakeholders.
The two-day conference, held under the theme "Data privacy as the pillar: securing an inclusive digital future towards Vision 2050," aims to examine the country's progress since the enactment of the Personal Data Protection Act in 2022 and chart future policy directions.
Deputy Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Switbert Zacharia Mkama, said personal data had become a critical asset in the digital age and must be adequately protected to safeguard citizens' rights, dignity and security.
"As government and private sector services increasingly move online, protecting citizens' data is no longer optional," Mkama said during the opening ceremony. "A digital economy cannot be built on technology alone. It also requires trust and confidence that personal information is secure."
Tanzania established the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) in 2022 to oversee the implementation of the country's data protection framework amid growing use of digital services and online platforms.
PDPC Director General Dr. emmanuel Lameck Mkwilia described the conference as a historic milestone, noting that it is the first national gathering dedicated to privacy issues since the legislation was enacted.
He said rapid adoption of digital technologies had significantly increased the collection and processing of personal information, making robust protection mechanisms increasingly important.
"Personal data privacy is not an obstacle to digital transformation; it is the foundation upon which sustainable digital growth is built," Mkwilia said.
The commission's board chairman, Adadi Mohammed Rajabu, said stronger privacy safeguards would help build public confidence in digital systems and improve Tanzania's attractiveness to investors.
Rajabu added that emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, presented major opportunities for innovation and economic growth but also required stronger safeguards to ensure personal information is handled responsibly.
"Tanzania's digital development must go hand in hand with respect for human dignity, accountability and information security," he said.
The conference is expected to conclude on July 1 after discussions on legal frameworks, emerging technologies and strategies for strengthening personal data protection in Tanzania and the wider region.
Tanzania has been accelerating its digital transformation agenda in recent years through expanded online government services, digital financial systems and increasing internet connectivity, while policymakers seek to balance innovation with privacy and cybersecurity concerns.
