Peace and stability are indispensable to Tanzania’s economic transformation agenda, the government has said, as it outlined three key pillars expected to accelerate growth and drive the country towards the ambitions of the Development Vision 2050.
Speaking during a media tour of the strategic Kidunda Dam project in Morogoro Region, Chief Government Spokesperson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Gerson Msigwa, said Tanzania must focus on sectors capable of creating jobs, generating value-added exports and stimulating growth across the wider economy.
He said the country’s development strategy should prioritise economic activities that employ large numbers of people, commodities with strong export potential after value addition, and sectors that can create linkages with other industries to maximise productivity and income generation.
“Tanzania must increase exports of locally produced goods. To compete in international markets, products such as rice, maize, meat and minerals must be processed, packaged and meet globally accepted standards,” Mr Msigwa said.
He noted that value addition remains critical if the country is to earn more foreign exchange and strengthen its position in regional and global markets.
Mr Msigwa also highlighted the importance of strengthening connections between key sectors, citing mining, agriculture, tourism and sports as areas that can reinforce one another and create broader economic opportunities.
According to him, economic diversification and stronger sectoral linkages are essential for achieving sustainable growth and increasing national revenue.
He described Morogoro as one of Tanzania’s major production hubs, contributing significantly to both food and cash crop output while hosting a growing industrial base.
The region is home to 63 large-scale industries, 1,049 medium-sized industries, 3,147 small-scale industries and nearly 16,000 traders.
Such economic activity, he said, can only flourish in an environment characterised by peace, security and social cohesion.
Mr Msigwa stressed that the successful implementation of the Development Vision 2050 would depend heavily on preserving the country’s longstanding stability.
“Tanzania remains peaceful and stable, and citizens should continue with their development activities confidently. The country is safe and the government is addressing existing challenges,” he said.
He warned that instability and uncertainty could discourage investment, disrupt production and undermine job creation.
“No nation can achieve meaningful development when people are creating fear, preventing others from working or causing unrest. Peace and stability are the responsibility of every Tanzanian,” he said.
Mr Msigwa noted that many of the world’s developed economies had advanced because their citizens were able to work, invest and innovate in secure and predictable environments.
He urged Tanzanians to safeguard national unity and reject actions that could threaten social harmony and economic progress.
On water security, Mr Msigwa said the government aims to achieve universal access to clean and safe water by 2050, in line with the national development vision.
He acknowledged that water shortages continue to affect some areas, particularly Dar es Salaam and Coast Region during dry seasons, despite the availability of water from the Upper and Lower Ruvu sources.
To address the challenge, he said, President Samia Suluhu Hassan directed the construction of the Kidunda Dam, a flagship infrastructure project expected to significantly improve water security for the country’s commercial capital and surrounding areas.
The TZS336 billion project, financed through domestic resources and implemented by the Dar es Salaam Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (DAWASA), has surpassed the halfway mark and is scheduled for completion in December 2026.
Once completed, the dam will store up to 190 billion litres of water, providing a reliable supply for residents of Dar es Salaam, Coast Region and parts of Morogoro.
Beyond domestic water supply, the project is expected to support environmental conservation, agricultural production and energy generation.
Mr Msigwa said the dam would also facilitate the production of 30 megawatts of electricity to be fed into the national grid and support irrigation activities, including sugarcane farming at the Mkulazi project.
The project manager, Engineer Christian Gava of DAWASA, said implementation had reached 50.3 percent, with more than 90 percent of major foundation works already completed.
He said the government had so far disbursed over TZS132 billion to the contractor, with no outstanding claims from either the contractor or the project consultant.
“We have a responsibility to manage this project with integrity because it is funded by taxpayers. Citizens have the right to know how public resources are being utilised,” Mr Gava said.
Meanwhile, Morogoro Press Club chairman Nickson Mkilanya urged journalists to continue informing the public about strategic development projects and their contribution to national growth.
He said accurate and sustained reporting on major investments would help citizens better understand the impact of government development initiatives and strengthen public accountability.
