EQUITY BANK AND GOVERNMENT TO STRENGTHEN LIVESTOCK AND LEATHER SECTOR IN TANZANIA.



Dodoma – July 24, 2025


Equity Bank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, has launched a special program aimed at strengthening the livestock and leather sector in Tanzania. The initiative seeks to add value to livestock products, expand markets, and improve the livelihoods of livestock keepers.


Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Edwin Mhede, stated that the government has directed Equity Bank and its Board to work with the government in forming a special technical team to oversee investment in the livestock sector.


“This move is aimed at improving animal husbandry and leather production systems, enhancing quality, and turning this sector into a major source of income for livestock keepers,” said Dr. Mhede.


He further noted that to improve the livestock sector, especially in tackling diseases, the government is currently running a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign. So far, more than 16 million animals have been vaccinated, and the exercise is expected to be completed by October this year to ensure that livestock products, including leather, meet local and international market standards.


On his part, Equity Group Holdings CEO, Dr. James Mwangi, said the partnership aligns with the bank’s vision to drive development in key economic sectors across Africa.


“We want livestock keepers to benefit not only from selling live animals and raw hides but by fully participating in entire value chains. Equity Group is ready to invest in technology and financing to transform the livestock and leather sector in Tanzania,” said Dr. Mwangi.


Equity Bank Tanzania Managing Director, Ms. Isabela Maganga, emphasized that the bank is committed to investing directly in the livestock and leather sector in collaboration with the government and other stakeholders. The goal is to empower livestock keepers, particularly in rural areas, to access profitable markets and increase income through improved value chains.


“We have prepared financial and technical strategies to help livestock keepers access affordable loans, engage in processing, and reach domestic and international markets,” said Ms. Maganga.


Chairman of the Equity Bank Board, Mr. Florens Turuka, added that the livestock and leather sector presents significant economic opportunities and urged livestock keepers to work with the bank to access credit and technical support to boost production and leather value.


Current statistics show that Tanzania has about 34 million cattle, 24.5 million goats, and 8.5 million sheep. The livestock sector contributes approximately 7.4% to the national GDP.


Presenting at the meeting, Equity Bank’s Director of Business, Mr. Prosper Nambaya, said the investment is a long-term solution to the challenges of the livestock sector and the export of raw hides without processing.


“By leveraging modern technology and integrating markets, Tanzania can improve livestock quality and triple the value of produced hides, thereby creating more jobs, increasing incomes, and boosting the sector’s contribution to the economy,” said Nambaya.


Some livestock keepers who attended the meeting highlighted challenges facing the sector, including lack of modern livestock farming knowledge, shortage of pasture and water, low productivity, poor infrastructure, lack of capital, insurance, and reliable markets. However, they praised Equity Bank for the initiative, saying it brings new hope for the sector’s growth.


The implementation of this partnership is expected to create jobs for women and youth across the livestock and leather value chains—from production, collection, and processing to marketing—while increasing the sector’s contribution to the national economy.


#EquityBank #LivestockDevelopment #LeatherIndustry #TanzaniaEconomy #Agribusiness #ValueAddition #YouthAndWomenEmpowerment #EconomicGrowth

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Muslim Hassanali Returns to Politics, Seeks CCM Nomination for Kinondoni Parliamentary Seat.

Image
Muslim Hassanali, who previously contested for the Ilala constituency parliamentary seat in 2015 under the opposition party CHADEMA, has resurfaced in the political arena—this time collecting a nomination form to run for Member of Parliament in Kinondoni under the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Hassanali, who later officially joined CCM, now joins a growing list of party members who have declared their intentions and collected nomination forms to seek the party’s endorsement ahead of the upcoming general elections. The process of collecting and returning nomination forms within CCM officially began on June 28, 2025, and is expected to conclude by July 2, 2025. Hassanali’s move signals a potentially competitive race within the party as aspirants vie for various leadership positions.
Read more

EAC Countries Unite to Boost Cross-Border Agroecological Trade: Seven Key Resolutions Adopted in Jinja Conference

Image
By Our Reporter Participants of the Regional Conference on Enhancing Cross-Border Trade in Agroecological Produce within the East African Community (EAC) have issued seven resolutions aimed at boosting this crucial sector for the economies of member states. The week-long conference, held in Jinja, Uganda, brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, farmers, researchers, and journalists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi, and the DRC. Reading the conference resolutions, the General Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), Dr. Million Belay, said that about 100 people met and discussed ways to collaborate and advance the vision of agroecological trade within the EAC. “We agreed that every stakeholder should fulfill their responsibilities to ensure accelerated regional economic growth through agroecology. We are calling on governments and all stakeholders to fully implement commitments to eliminate non-tariff ba...
Read more

*Government Launches 15274 Hotline to Ease Access to National ID Information

Image
Dar es Salaam: The Government has urged citizens to use their mobile phones by dialing *15274 to easily access information related to National Identification Cards (NIDA). Speaking today, December 29, 2025, the Minister for Home Affairs, George Simbachawene, said the service will enable citizens to check the status of their National ID cards, including whether the card has been produced or not, with feedback provided within five days. He explained that through this number, citizens will receive important information regarding their National IDs, adding that damaged ID cards are expected to be replaced starting February 2026. “By using this number, you will be able to get information on whether your ID card has been produced. I emphasize that damaged ID cards will be issued in February 2026,” said Minister Simbachawene. The Minister further noted that the Government has put in place a strategy to introduce the use of a single identification card for accessing various government services...
Read more