Traders and investors in Mtwara have been urged to use local government leaders and authorities to resolve business challenges before taking unresolved matters to senior government officials.
Mtwara Regional Administrative Secretary Bahati Geuzye made the call on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, during a stakeholders’ meeting that brought together investors and businesspeople in the region to discuss ways of improving the investment climate.
The meeting was organised by the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) as part of efforts to identify challenges facing businesses and find ways of improving the delivery of government services to investors.
Ms Geuzye said businesses should make use of leadership structures available in their areas so that challenges can be addressed at the appropriate level and without unnecessary delays.
The call comes as the government seeks to strengthen the private sector’s contribution to economic growth under the Development Vision 2050.
Director of the President’s Office, Planning and Investment, Fadhili Chilumba, said the private sector had been assigned a major role in the country’s long-term economic transformation, with the Development Vision 2050 targeting a 70 percent contribution from the sector to the economy.
He said the government was working on policies, guidelines and strategies aimed at creating a more conducive environment for private businesses and investors.
“The private sector has a major role in achieving the objectives of the Development Vision 2050, and we are working on policies, guidelines and strategies to ensure it makes the expected contribution,” Mr Chilumba said.
TISEZA Southern Zone Manager Valentine Kagombora said the meeting was aimed at identifying ways to improve the investment environment by removing unnecessary bureaucracy, increasing transparency and improving efficiency.
He said the authority also wanted to use concerns raised by investors and traders to help attract productive investment and support implementation of the Development Vision 2050.
Msanga Mkuu Ward councillor Mahmoud Sinani commended the government for improving infrastructure in Mtwara, particularly the port and airport, saying the developments were creating a more favourable environment for investment.
He said the presence of TISEZA in the region could further accelerate development by helping investors address challenges and navigate government procedures more efficiently.
The meeting brought together government officials, investors and traders, providing a platform for the private sector to raise concerns and discuss measures to make it easier to do business in Mtwara.