More than 170 youth groups in Mbeya District have secured government procurement opportunities under the 30 percent allocation reserved for special groups, highlighting the growing role of public tenders in creating business opportunities for young people.
Mbeya District Commissioner Solomon Itunda said the initiative, implemented in line with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive, had enabled youth groups to participate in tenders issued by local government authorities.
He said more than 170 youth groups had benefited from opportunities provided by Mbeya District Council, while Mbeya City Council had extended similar opportunities to 211 groups.
Mr Itunda made the remarks on October 2, 2026, when he opened the 2026 Youth Conference in Mbeya, which brought together government institutions, the police and financial institutions to discuss economic opportunities, education, mental health and other issues affecting young people.
The figures point to public procurement as one of the channels through which government spending can directly create opportunities for youth-led businesses, particularly groups that may struggle to compete for larger contracts.
“The President is genuinely determined to ensure that young people in Mbeya benefit from government opportunities in our areas and across the country,” Mr Itunda said.
He urged young people to take advantage of the opportunities available through government programmes and move beyond complaints about economic challenges.
“The time for complaining is over. What remains is to take further steps to improve our lives by using the opportunities available,” he said.
The commissioner also cited other government interventions targeting young people, including increased access to higher education loans and efforts to ensure that students receive the financing on time.
He said investment in education infrastructure, including boarding secondary schools, universities, laboratories and teachers’ offices, was also aimed at improving opportunities for young people.
For youth-owned businesses, access to public procurement can provide both a market and an opportunity to build a track record that may help them compete for contracts in the wider market.
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Mbeya District Council chairperson Aida Haule urged young people to use government programmes productively and turn available opportunities into sustainable livelihoods.
“President Samia wants to see this generation and the next one benefit from government opportunities. Let us use this youth platform and the available economic opportunities to improve your lives,” Ms Haule said.
District Administrative Officer Devotha Chacha urged young people and students to remain focused on their goals despite challenges they encounter.
She also encouraged young people who are not in school to use mobile phones and other digital technologies to acquire skills, pursue self-employment and develop income-generating activities.
The conference brought together young people and representatives from government institutions, the police and financial institutions to provide information on available economic and social opportunities.
The 30 percent procurement allocation is intended to widen participation in public procurement by groups covered under the special-groups arrangement, including youth, women and people with disabilities.