Dodoma – The Minister of State in the President’s Office for Planning and Investment, Professor Kitila Mkumbo, on Feb.2 tabled three key planning instruments that will guide the nation’s development trajectory for the next quarter-century.
The presentation marks a significant shift from planning to a disciplined execution of the country’s long-term development agenda.
“Perhaps translating our vision into action is a much bigger task than planning itself,” Prof Mkumbo told parliament, emphasising the government’s new focus on results-based accountability and implementation. “We must abandon business as usual. Routine approaches will not deliver extraordinary results.”
The three instruments presented to parliament are the Long-Term Perspective Plan (LTPP) for 2026/27–2050/51, the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP IV) for 2026/27–2030/31, and the National Development Plan for 2026/27.
These documents outline the strategic direction, medium-term goals, and annual priorities for achieving the ambitious targets set out in Vision 2050, which was launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on July 17, 2025.
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The LTPP, a 25-year strategic anchor, is estimated to cost US$358 billion, with 70 per cent of the funding expected to come from the private sector. The FYDP IV, the first of five medium-term plans, aims to achieve a real GDP growth of 10.5 per cent, a nominal GDP of US$118.1 billion, and a per capita income of US$1,638 by 2031.
The total cost of the FYDP IV is estimated at 477 trillion Tanzanian shillings, with the private sector also expected to contribute 70 per cent of the financing.
Finance Minister Hamis Mussa Omar presented the budget guidelines for the medium-term period, stressing the importance of fiscal sustainability and revenue mobilisation.
He stated that the government expects to collect an average of Sh52.48 trillion in revenue annually, with a projected growth of 12.1 per cent per year.
Some reservations
However, the Chairperson of the parliamentary Budget Committee, Mashimba Mshauri Ndaki, expressed some reservations about the ambitious plans.
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While acknowledging the importance of the vision, his committee’s report highlighted concerns about potential implementation challenges, particularly the heavy reliance on private sector funding.
“The committee has concerns about the feasibility of the private sector contributing 60 trillion shillings in a single year, given the current investment climate,” Mr Ndaki said. He urged the government to improve the business environment to attract the necessary investment.
The committee also recommended the establishment of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure accountability and track progress towards the vision’s goals.
“We must have solid systems for monitoring and evaluation to be able to achieve the goals and targets we have set for ourselves,” Mr Ndaki added.
To address these concerns, the government has announced the development of a results-based monitoring and evaluation system, which will be rolled out in July 2026.
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The National Planning Commission has also been empowered to summon senior officials to resolve any bottlenecks that may arise during implementation.
Four main pillars
Vision 2050 is built on four main pillars: a high-income, diversified, resilient, inclusive and competitive economy; a better life and prosperity for all; sustainable natural resource management and climate resilience; and a skilled population with digital technology capabilities.
The plan includes seven flagship programmes, supported by 45 anchor projects, including the Bagamoyo Eco-Maritime City, the Lindi Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Programme, and the Liganga–Mchuchuma Iron and Steel Complex.
The government has pointed to encouraging economic indicators as a foundation for the next development phase. Between January and June 2025, the economy grew by 5.8 per cent, up from 5.2 per cent during the same period in 2024.
Inflation remained low at 3.1 per cent in June 2025, and foreign exchange reserves stood at US$5.97 billion, sufficient to cover 4.8 months of imports.
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The successful implementation of Vision 2050 will depend on a number of factors, including maintaining peace and political stability, strengthening the rule of law and good governance, expanding infrastructure, embracing digital innovation, and fostering public-private partnerships.
The government has expressed its commitment to creating a conducive environment for investment and ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are shared by all Tanzanians.
