Kafulila: President Samia’s Four Years Have Transformed Tanzania’s Economy.

 

By Our Correspondent

The Director of the Public-Private Partnership Centre (PPPC), David Kafulila, has said that four years of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership have brought remarkable economic transformation in Tanzania.

Kafulila made the remarks today in Morogoro Region during an Academic Symposium on Inclusive Economy Implementation Towards the National Vision 2050, organized by PPPC in collaboration with the Muslim University of Morogoro (MUM), and attended by experts and members of the public.

He said an economic assessment conducted over the past four years shows significant progress across various sectors. For instance, the irrigation sector has expanded from 540,000 hectares to one million hectares, now benefiting from irrigation projects.

In the mining sector, which was previously dominated by large-scale and foreign miners, Kafulila noted that now about 2,600 small-scale miners hold licenses—raising their contribution to the mining sector’s income from 20 percent in 2021 to 40 percent in 2024.

“When President Samia assumed office, the national power transmission lines stretched 6,000 kilometers built over 60 years. In just four years, 2,000 kilometers have been added—equivalent to 30 percent of what was achieved in six decades. That is the true meaning of an inclusive economy,” Kafulila explained.

He added that if such momentum continues, the implementation of the National Vision 2050 will be achieved more easily.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of MUM and former Controller and Auditor General (CAG), Prof. Mussa Assad, praised the economic growth recorded under President Samia’s leadership, saying it has reached six percent, with a stable price system compared to previous years.

Prof. Assad noted that the general standard of living has improved and Tanzania’s economy is performing well compared to Kenya and Rwanda.

Speaking on inclusive growth, he emphasized the need for deliberate efforts in the next 25 years to ensure everyone benefits from the economy.

He urged both the government and the private sector to equip university graduates with practical skills to enable them to participate effectively in the inclusive economy.

“The government and private sector have a responsibility to provide skills training to graduates so they can contribute to the inclusive economy,” he stated.

Prof. Assad also pointed out that data collection systems remain outdated, citing continued use of paper-based methods while digital systems are already applied in revenue collection. He called for digitalization in statistical data management.

Economist Dr. Bravious Kahyoza added that since 2021, the ratio of trade to GDP has increased from 27 percent to 43 percent, reflecting expanded opportunities and growing business activity.

He further said that the public sector has made notable progress in job creation, employing over 400,000 workers in the past four years—outpacing neighboring countries such as Kenya (311,000), Uganda (196,000), and Rwanda (20,000).

Dr. Kahyoza remarked, “In the past four years, Tanzania has performed exceptionally well in public sector employment compared to other East African countries.”

On his part, Mzumbe University lecturer and PPP expert, Moshi Derefa, said global investment trends increasingly favor Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and Tanzania should strengthen its focus in that area.

“We believe and understand that the private sector often leads in such environments because PPPs not only involve local partners but also attract international investors who possess advanced technology and expertise across various sectors,” said Derefa.