This morning, I woke up with a smile after reading the headlines: Tanzania is officially off the FATF grey list! The same list that had hovered over our heads like a stubborn rain cloud during our Vision 2050 drafting days. Back then, it was more than a technical embarrassment. It was a sobering mirror reflecting doubts about our financial credibility, institutional strength, and readiness for transformative growth.
In October 2022, Tanzania found itself on a list no country wants to be on. The FATF grey list. It wasn’t a punishment, but it was a wake-up call. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog formed by the G7 in 1989, had flagged Tanzania for strategic deficiencies in its systems to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Being on the grey list meant Tanzania was under increased monitoring. It signaled to the world: “We see gaps in your financial integrity.” Investors grew cautious. International banks raised eyebrows. And development partners asked tough questions.
From 2022 to 2025, Tanzania rolled up its sleeves and launched a national reform marathon. Here’s what we did: First, Tanzania strengthened supervision of banks and non-financial businesses, applying real consequences for non-compliance. Second, law enforcement officials were trained to investigate and prosecute financial crimes based on risk profiles.
Tanzania also improved its asset tracing, making it harder for criminals to hide their loot. It also assessed terrorism financing risks, especially in non-profit organizations, and launched a national strategy to counter it. There were also efforts to raise awareness about financial sanctions among private and public institutions. These weren’t just checkboxes; they were structural shifts. Ministries coordinated. Laws were amended. Institutions were audited. And citizens, slowly but surely, began to feel the ripple effects.
On 13th June 2025, FATF officially announced: Tanzania is no longer under increased monitoring. We were removed from the grey list alongside Croatia and Mali. The world took notice. Investor confidence ticked upward. Our reputation in global financial circles was restored. Now, by implementing reforms (think better asset tracing, institutional audits, law enforcement coordination), we’ve earned our exit. In the development world, this is like getting an honorary doctorate in fiscal credibility. Global investors may now nod approvingly and say, “Ah, yes, Tanzania.”
Common citizen perspective
But do our citizens nod with understanding or just blink and move on? I asked myself: Do Tanzanians understand how this affects them? Does Mama Lishe in Morogoro know this could mean better access to finance for her poultry startup? Does the university graduate in Arusha realize this boosts his chances of finding a job in the growing fintech sector?
Or are we stuck in a loop where progress happens behind closed doors, and democracy peeks in through keyholes? Let’s be honest. Some of our politicians are still promising bridges where rivers do not exist. Meanwhile, they skip over reforms like FATF delisting, OGP re-entry, or budget transparency. Because those terms don’t make easy sound bites. They’re not as sexy as “tutajenga daraja,” are they?
But we must insist: if politicians don’t understand these reforms, how will they prioritize them? If they don’t understand how financial transparency feeds citizen empowerment, how will they defend it?
Rejoining the Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a strategic necessity. FATF reforms were technical; OGP commitments are democratic. One says, “We’re compliant,” the other says, “We’re accountable.”
Tanzania now has the credibility to lead an East African open governance wave. But credibility needs character. We must ensure that reforms are not just happening to us; they’re being owned by us. If today’s headline was “Tanzania removed from FATF grey list,” tomorrow’s must be: “Wananchi removed from grey zone of confusion, reforms finally make sense!”
Let’s celebrate but also communicate. Let’s applaud the policymakers but also ask them to translate. Let’s share the news on WhatsApp groups, radio, pulpits, and even VICOBAs. Let’s demand that every reform include a seat for the citizens, not just in theory, but in impact.
And let’s ask the big question: If we can remove ourselves from the FATF grey list, can we remove ourselves from the grey list of democratic dissatisfaction, too?
This is our moment. Let’s not waste it building metaphorical bridges where rivers don’t flow. Let’s build real ones with citizen agency as the foundation and transparency as the steel. FATF isn’t just about finance; it’s about governance. Reform is possible when there’s political will and institutional coordination. Citizens deserve to understand these victories, not just read them in headlines.
Annastazia Rugaba is the Director of Advocacy and Engagement at Twaweza. She can be reached at 0687222197 or annarugaba@gmail.com.The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
