A panel discussion of business leaders, moderated by Serengeti Breweries Limited Managing Director, Dr. Obinna Anyalebechi (right), discusses strategies for strengthening Tanzania’s resilience to climate shocks during the CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt) Monthly Engagement Dialogue held at the Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro.
The CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt) has called for closer coordination between Government and businesses to manage recurring climate shocks, protect people and infrastructure, and reduce the economic cost of disruptions to business operations.
Business leaders and climate experts said repeated damage to roads, power networks and drainage systems exposed vulnerabilities that individual enterprises could not adequately address alone.
They urged earlier investment in preparedness, better infrastructure planning and greater use of business experiences to inform public interventions.
The call emerged from CEOrt’s October Members’ Engagement, themed “Beyond the Forecast: Building Resilience to Climate Risk,” which examined how business preparedness, access to finance and public-private collaboration could help Tanzania reduce losses and sustain economic activity.
Participants emphasised that anticipated El Niño conditions provided an immediate reason to prepare, while the recurrence of climate-related disruptions called for sustained attention to the infrastructure and services on which businesses and communities depend.
Moderating the discussion, Serengeti Breweries Limited Managing Director Dr. Obinna Anyalebechi said climate information would have limited value unless it informed preventive action.
“No matter how much climate intelligence or information we have, it makes little difference if we do not act on it. Action is what can protect businesses, save lives, safeguard customers and preserve the wider ecosystems in which we operate. We must move beyond having information to using it to make decisions and take practical steps.”
Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) Director General Dr. Ladislaus Chang’a, who presented the 2026/27 climate outlook online, urged stakeholders to integrate weather and climate information into the planning and implementation of socio-economic activities.
He said regular monitoring of seasonal forecasts could help sectors such as agriculture, transport, tourism and manufacturing anticipate disruptions and make informed decisions. For businesses, this information provides an opportunity to adjust production, procurement and distribution plans before conditions deteriorate.
The discussion also highlighted the financial pressure associated with preparedness, particularly where enterprises must absorb additional costs to compensate for unreliable infrastructure.
Super Meals Limited Managing Director Ms. Fauzia Malik described how the company had adjusted production and stock distribution to manage potential disruptions at its Mkuranga factory. Such measures tie up working capital and increase operating costs, affecting the resources available for other business priorities.
She said businesses often developed their own responses to road and electricity challenges while waiting for broader interventions, underscoring the need for more effective collaboration with Government and service providers.
Shambani Milk Chief Executive Officer and Founder Mr. Victor Mfinanga illustrated the consequences of transport interruptions, explaining that the company had approximately 72 hours before its milk spoiled if road closures prevented deliveries.
In tourism, Asilia Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Jeroen Harderwijk highlighted the sector’s exposure to disruptions affecting natural attractions, weather conditions and access to destinations.
Advent Construction Limited Managing Director Mr. Dhruv Jog said reducing infrastructure vulnerability depended on integrated urban planning alongside engineering solutions.
“One of the mistakes we make is treating this primarily as an engineering problem. It is, more fundamentally, an urban planning problem,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of adequate drainage, maintenance of existing infrastructure and development decisions that consider their wider consequences. Roads, bridges and buildings planned without these connections could contribute to future flooding problems.
The financing discussion examined how businesses could better understand their exposure and direct investment towards preparedness.
Stanbic Bank Chief Executive Officer Mr. Manzi Rwegasira highlighted the value of scenario planning in assessing climate risks and identifying investments that improve business resilience.
Vice President’s Office Assistant Director of Environment Dr. Paul Deogratius emphasised the integration of environmental considerations into national development planning under DIRA 2050. The discussion also highlighted the importance of clear investment frameworks to attract private capital into resilient infrastructure.
Members were encouraged to review insurance arrangements ahead of extreme weather events, paying attention to asset valuations, policy exclusions and the financial exposure their organisations would retain.
CEOrt Board Director Mr. David Nchimbi said climate resilience should remain a business priority regardless of whether a particular rainy season was associated with El Niño. He noted that recurring disruptions demonstrated the importance of infrastructure designed and maintained to support business continuity, adding that the cost of inaction could exceed the cost of preparation.
One practical proposal was to consolidate members’ experiences of power interruptions, supply chain delays and associated business costs. As highlighted by Ms. Malik, this evidence could help CEOrt identify common vulnerabilities and engage Government and service providers on infrastructure priorities and practical solutions.
CEOrt Chief Executive Officer Ms. Santina Benson said the organisation would continue bringing Government and businesses together to identify interventions and ensure that private-sector concerns informed planning and decision-making.
The dialogue cemented the need to connect business preparedness with public infrastructure planning, financing and emergency responses, helping protect employees, customers and communities while reducing the resources repeatedly diverted towards recovery.