Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on July 24, 2025.
Inside Tanzania’s Strategy to Cut Fertilizer Import Dependency
The Bank of Tanzania put fertilizers as one of Tanzania’s top imports, costing the country to the tune of USD 1.6 billion between 2020 and 2024. This represents significant forex resources, which could be directed to alternative uses if the demands are met locally, especially since the country has been battling with the challenge of dollar shortages.
Agriculture employs 65 percent of the Tanzanians and is about 26 percent of the Tanzanian economy. Due to the shifting global trends, dependency on imported fertilizer presents a hurdle to the economy and Tanzanian farmers. For example, Tanzania spent about half a billion dollars on the importation of fertilizers in 2022, mostly attributed to global changes, specifically the Russia-Ukraine war. This is the highest amount ever spent in recent years.
Tanzania has strategically decided to increase the use of fertilizers in its arable land, meaning that if fertilizers are mostly available locally, the usage will increase even faster. For instance, Tanzania has managed to increase fertilizer use in the country from 363,599 tonnes in the fiscal year 2021/22 to 848,884 tonnes in the fiscal year 23/24. However, fertilizer usage per hectare remains on the lower end at about 19 kilograms per hectare, below the Abuja Declaration recommendation of about 50 kilograms per hectare.
Read the full article here
Butiku Points Fingers at Kikwete for the ‘Misdirection’ of CCM’s January 2025 Congress, But Calls It a Minor Issue
Joseph Butiku, Chairperson of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation and former aide to Tanzania’s founding president, has weighed in on the ongoing discussion regarding CCM’s nomination process for its presidential candidate. While acknowledging that procedural irregularities occurred, Butiku described the mistake as one made in good faith.
Butiku put the blame on the advice offered by the former Chair of the ruling CCM, Jakaya Kikwete. Butiku shared his perspective during an interview on ITV’s Dakika 45 evening program aired on July 23, 2025.
“This time, there were a few irregularities that occurred; they say procedures were not followed. To be honest, to some extent, that’s true. If it weren’t true, you wouldn’t be hearing about problems that have never happened before. This is not the first election—we started holding elections in 1965, and over the years, we’ve gone through many elections, and CCM has always participated, and things have gone smoothly,” Butiku said.
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Tanzania’s State Mining Corporation Secures Major Mining License for Wigu Hills After ICSID Settlement
The Tanzania State Mining Corporation (STAMICO) has officially been granted a large-scale exploration and mining license for Rare Earth Elements (REE) at the Wigu Hills site in Morogoro, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to harness its strategic mineral resources for national development.
The license was handed over by the Minister of Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, during a well-attended public ceremony in Sesenga village, Mgazi Ward, July 24, 2025. The move follows the conclusion of an investment dispute at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) after the Tanzanian government revoked the license of Wigu Hill Mining Company Limited.
In November 2024, Canadian company Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd announced it had reached a settlement worth US$27 million with the Government of Tanzania regarding the expropriation of its Wigu Hill REE project. According to Montero, the agreed settlement was to be paid in three tranches, beginning with US$12 million received by November 20, 2024, followed by US$8 million to be paid in January 2025 and a final installment of US$7 million to be paid in February 2025.
Read the full article here.
TRA Issues One-Month Ultimatum for Online Businesses to Register
The Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has issued a one-month ultimatum for online businesses to register for tax purposes.
This announcement was made on July 24, 2025, after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation (IBFD) and the Tanzania Revenue Authority at the Institute of Tax Administration (ITA) in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking to the press, TRA Commissioner General Yusuph Mwenda said the Authority has strengthened its capacity to address challenges brought about by the digital economy. Especially the fact that some major companies operate in Tanzania and facilitate digital business operations without necessarily having a physical presence in the country.
Mwenda emphasized that online businesses must register within the one-month window and will receive necessary support from the tax authority during this period.
“We have given one month from August 1st to August 30th. Those doing business with these companies, including those who rent out houses through Airbnb and have not registered with the TRA, and do not contribute anything, have been given time to enable them to register and contribute, because they have not been exempted from paying taxes,” Mwenda said.
Read the full article here.
Bashungwa Represents President Samia at the Virtual Heads of State and Government Summit on the Situation in Libya
Tanzanian Minister of Home Affairs, Innocent Bashungwa, represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan at a virtual Heads of State and Government Summit on the situation in Libya, held on July 24, 2025.
The summit was chaired by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union Peace and Security Council for July 2025.
The meeting was convened in response to renewed clashes between rival militia groups in Tripoli, which erupted on May 12.
In a statement on X following the meeting, President Museveni called for the maintenance of the ceasefire, urged foreign countries to refrain from interfering in Libya’s internal affairs, and emphasized the need for inclusive elections and dialogue involving all Libyans.
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