Government Expands Access to Affordable Loans for Small-Scale Traders Through NMB Bank.



The Government has continued to take firm measures to empower small-scale traders, particularly youth and women, by providing affordable loans through NMB Bank as part of its strategy to boost citizens’ economic growth and reduce unemployment in the country.

Speaking today, December 22, 2025, in Dar es Salaam while briefing the public on the implementation of development activities and opportunities for special groups for the 2025/26 financial year, the Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, said the loans are aimed at enabling small-scale traders to increase capital, expand their businesses, and enhance their participation in economic activities.

Dr. Gwajima explained that through her Ministry, in collaboration with NMB Bank, the Government has established a loan scheme with a low interest rate of seven percent (7%), to ensure small-scale traders can access capital more easily and under friendlier conditions compared to conventional commercial loans.

According to the Minister, a total of 4,870 small-scale traders have so far benefited from loans amounting to TZS 9.9 billion, funds that have been used to strengthen various businesses, including service provision, production, and petty trade in both urban and rural areas.

She emphasized that the loans mainly target youth and women, who make up the largest proportion of small-scale traders in the country, noting that empowering these groups is a key pillar in the implementation of Tanzania’s National Development Vision 2050 and the Government’s efforts to build a competitive and inclusive economy.

Dr. Gwajima called on small-scale traders who have not yet benefited from the loans to come forward and register in the Small-Scale Traders Management Information System (WBN-MIS) through Community Development Officers in their respective local government authorities, in order to access accurate information and benefit from the available opportunities.

She added that the Government will continue to improve economic empowerment systems in collaboration with financial institutions to ensure small-scale traders access loans on time, at affordable terms and transparently, a move expected to stimulate business growth, create employment, and increase citizens’ incomes.

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