THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA

PRESIDENT’S OFFICE
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

MBEYA REGION
INVESTMENT GUIDE

The preparation of this guide was supported by

the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and
the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF)

ISBN: 978 - 9987 - 664 - 18 - 4 E-mail: esrf@esrf.or.tz

Website: www.esrftz.or.tz

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | i

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................................v
LIST OF FIGURES.....................................................................................................................................v
ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................................................................................................vi
DEMONSTRATION OF COMMITMENT FROM THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT........................................................................................................................................ix
FOREWORD...............................................................................................................................................x
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................xii
DISCLAIMER........................................................................................................................................... xiv

PART ONE:................................................................................................1

REASONS FOR INVESTING IN MBEYA REGION................................................. 1

1.1 Mbeya Region in the Broader Tanzanian Context....................................................1
1.2 Investment Climate and Trade Policy in Tanzania.....................................................2
1.3 Specific Attractive Investment Conditions for Mbeya Region..........................5
1.4 Suggested Priority Investment Areas in Mbeya Region........................................7
1.4.1 Summary of Regional-Level Priority Investment Opportunities......7
1.4.2 Summary of Council-Level Priority Investment Opportunities.........8
1.5 The Guide’s Target Groups.......................................................................................................9

PART TWO...............................................................................................11

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF MBEYA REGION...........................................11

2.1 Geographic Location and Boundaries....................................................................11
2.2 Land Area..................................................................................................................................12
2.3 Population................................................................................................................................12
2.4 Administrative Units...........................................................................................................13
2.5 The Regional Economy....................................................................................................14
2.6 Climate, Soils and Topography....................................................................................14

ii | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

2.7 Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ)........................................................................................15
2.8 River Basins in the Region..............................................................................................16
2.9 Productive Sectors..............................................................................................................16
2.9.1 Agriculture Sector.................................................................................................17
2.9.2 Livestock.....................................................................................................................23
2.9.3 Natural Resources.................................................................................................24
2.10 Industrial Sector....................................................................................................................29

PART THREE............................................................................................30

PRIORITY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN MBEYA REGION....................30

3.1 Land Earmarked for Investments...............................................................................30
3.2 Regional Level Priority Investment Opportunities..........................................31
3.2 Council Level Priority Investment Opportunities............................................40

PART FOUR.............................................................................................64

FACILITATION, PROCESSES, REQUIREMENTS AND INCENTIVES................64

4.1 Supportive Policies and Legal Environment.......................................................64
4.1.1 Policies, Legal, Institutional and Regulatory Considerations........64
4.1.2 Strategies, Plans, and Programmes............................................................65
4.1.3 Investment Options: Individual, PPP, PPCP, and Joint venture....... 65
4.2 Facilitation................................................................................................................................67
4.2.1 Lead Institution......................................................................................................67
4.2.2 Main Institutions Dealing with Investment in Tanzania and
Mbeya Region.........................................................................................................68
4.2.3 Registration...............................................................................................................68
4.2.4 Taxes..............................................................................................................................68
4.3 Incentives..................................................................................................................................70
4.4 Access to Resources...........................................................................................................71
4.4.1 Land for Investment in Tanzania..................................................................71
4.4.2 Land for Investment in Mbeya Region....................................................72

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | iii

 4.4.3 Banking and Financial Services....................................................................72
4.4.4 Labour..........................................................................................................................72
4.5 Inclusion and Participation of the Private Sector.............................................73

PART FIVE...............................................................................................74

KEY CONTACTS IN MBEYA REGION..................................................................74

5.1 Key Websites...........................................................................................................................74
5.2 Key Contacts...........................................................................................................................74
5.2.1 Regional Commissioner’s Office..................................................................74
5.2.2 Mbeya City Council..............................................................................................74
5.2.3 District Councils.....................................................................................................75

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Mbeya Region Land Area.........................................................................................12

Table 2: Population of Mbeya Region.................................................................................13

Table 3: Administrative Units of Mbeya Region............................................................13

Table 4: Estimated Production in Tonnes of Major Food Crops

in Mbeya Region............................................................................................................18

Table 5: Estimated Production in Tonnes of Major Cash Crops

in Mbeya Region............................................................................................................22

Table 6: Livestock Population and Marketed Livestock in 2019

in Mbeya Region............................................................................................................24

Table 7: National Parks and Game Reserves found in Mbeya Region.............26

Table 8: Hunting blocks available in Mbeya Region in 2019................................28

Table 9: Land Earmarked for Investments in Mbeya Region.................................30

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Mbeya Region Road Network..................................................................................5

Figure 2: Map of Mbeya Region................................................................................................11

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | v

 ABBREVIATIONS

AGOA African Growth Opportunity Act

ASDP Agriculture Sector Development Strategy and Programme
BRELA Business Registration and Licensing Agency
CSO Civil Society Organisation
EAC East African Community
EPZ Export Processing Zone
ESRF Economic and Social Research Foundation
EU European Union
FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation
FBO Faith-Based Organisation
FCC Fair Competition Commission
FDCs Folk Development Centres
FETA Fisheries Education and Training Agency
FYDP National Five-Year Development Plan
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GoT Government of Tanzania
GPSA Government Procurement Services Agency
ICSD International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IIDS Integrated Industrial Development Strategy
ISO Industrialization Support Organization
ITC International Trade Centre
LGAs Local Government Authorities
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation
MoA Ministry of Agriculture
MCDI Mpingo Conservation and Development Initiative
MIGA Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
MIT Ministry of Industry and Trade
MLF Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries
MWI Ministry of Water and Irrigation
NARCO National Ranching Company
TNBC Tanzania National Business Council
NBS National Bureau of Statistics

vi | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

NEEC National Economic Empowerment Council
NEMC National Environmental Management Council
NGO Non-Government Organisation
NIDF National Irrigation Development Fund
PMO Prime Minister Office
PO-RALG President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local
Government
PPCP Public-Private Community Partnership
PPP Public-Private Partnership
RALG Regional Administration and Local Government
RAS Regional Administrative Secretary
RS Regional Secretariat
RECs Regional Economic Communities
SACCOS Savings and Credit Co-operative Society
SADC Southern African Development Community
SDL Skills and Development Levy
SEZ Special Economic Zone
SIDO Small Industry Development Organisation
SIDP Sustainable Industrial Development Policy
SOE State Owned Enterprises
SME Small and Medium Enterprise
TAFMA Tanzania Animal Feeds Manufacturers Association
TANESCO Tanzania Electric Supply Company
TANROADS Tanzania National Roads Agency
TANTRADE Tanzania Trade Development Authority
TARURA Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency
TBS Tanzania Bureau of Standards
TCF Trillion Cubic Feet
TCT Tourism Confederation of Tanzania
TCCIA Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture
TDU Textiles Development Unit
TAFIRI Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute
THDR Tanzania Human Development Report
TIA Tanzania Investment Act
TIC Tanzania Investment Centre
TIN Tax Identification Number

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | vii

TMDA Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority
TMEA Trade Mark East Africa
TPDC Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation
TPSF Tanzania Private Sector Foundation
TRA Tanzania Revenue Authority
TRIMs Trade-related Investment Measures
TZS Tanzanian Shillings
UNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
VAT Value-Added Tax
VETA Vocational Education and Training Authority
WB World Bank
WTO World Trade Organisation
WWF World Wildlife Fund

viii | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 DEMONSTRATION OF COMMITMENT FROM THE HIGHEST
LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT

“My Government is determined to continue improving the business environment and, in so doing,
provide a wide range of appropriate incentives and support to unleash creativity of private sector and
other stakeholders in harnessing Tanzania’s comparative advantages and thereby boosting productivity,
enhancing innovation and fostering economic integration and deepening participation in the region
and global value chains.”

His Excellency, Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli.

The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Preface to
the Tanzania Five Year Development Plan, June, 2016.

“Industrialisation is relevant not only “The 21st Century is going to identify itself with intensifying
because of economic reasons but more competitive business environment in which business to
because it enhances shared prosperity triumph are those with relevant industrial products and
necessary to ensure civil harmony. It services, modern technologies and human resource
does this by increasing employment that is imbued with respective skills, work ethics and
innovativeness. Industrialization is the basic requirement
of our youth, reducing poverty and and core secret of business to survive in the 21st Century.
redressing inequality.” It is in this wisdom that the Fifth Phase Government
of the United Republic of Tanzania has embraced
Her Excellency, Samia Suluhu industrialization as its ultimate goal. The success of this
Hassan. goal calls for the regional administrations to focus on the
The Vice President of the United provision of conducive business environment necessary
Republic of Tanzania remarks during to facilitate business operations and flow of investments.”
the 2nd East African Business and
Entrepreneurship Conference and Hon. Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa.
Exhibition held on 14th November 2017, The Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania
In his opening remarks at the Business and Investment
at the Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel. Forum, Tabora Region, on 21st November, 2018.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | ix

 FOREWORD

Welcome to Mbeya Region, Tanzania’s bread

basket. Mbeya Region has embarked on
promoting investments and making the region
a new business hub for East and Southern
African countries. This investment guide seeks
to realise the regional vision and the National
Development Vision 2025. The guide has been
made in line with the overall investment policy,
development vision and development plans
of Tanzania. It presents available investment opportunities at regional and
council levels to attract investors and hasten realisation of the regional vision.

The purpose of this investment guide is, first, to provide potential domestic
and foreign investors with investment information relating to the region’s
unique available investment opportunities and, in doing so, attract them to
invest in the region and in accordance with the aspirations of the Regional
Secretariat and the local government authorities (LGAs). Second, the guide
is expected to foster Mbeya’s regional competitiveness and visibility in areas
where it has strengths and emerging economic potentials.

Third, to promote and advertise productive capacities in key primary

and industrial sectors and, in so doing, exploit the already promising high
strengths of the region. Fourth, to foster environmentally friendly investments
that add value to the region’s many primary commodities in order to
sustainably augment the regional GDP growth by stirring broad, inclusive
and resilient economic participation of local communities into the growth
and industrialisation initiative of the Government. Fifth and last, to contribute
towards realisation of Tanzania’s vision to become a middle-income country
while ensuring improved well-being of the people of Mbeya Region.

The Mbeya regional administration and its seven local government authorities,
namely Mbeya District Councils, Rungwe District Council, Kyela District
Council, Busokelo District Council, Chunya District Council, Mbarali District
Council, and Mbeya City Council, vow to provide investors with a conducive
business environment through, among others, the requisite political support,

x | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

special incentives, supportive social and economic services, and after-care
services. Investors needing further details on the selected strategic and viable
opportunities should not hesitate to contact relevant officials, whose contact
information is included in this guide.

In the process of preparing this guide, the team of experts from ESRF received
full cooperation from the regional team under the Regional Administrative
Secretary (RAS) Mrs. Mariam Mtunguja as well as from district teams under
district commissioners, City Director and district executive directors. I am
grateful for their participation and contribution as part of their commitment
to the accomplishment of this guide. On behalf of the Regional Secretariat, I
am personally indebted to express my sincere gratitude to both the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their financial support and the
Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) for their technical support
in producing this guide.

I would like to specifically acknowledge Dr. Daniel Ngowi and his team of
experts, namely Dr. Jackson Madulu Nkuba, Mr. James Kasindi, Mrs. Margareth
Nzuki and Mr. Mussa M. Martine for their commitment and technical support
that collectively resulted in the publishing of this guide. It is not easy to
mention everyone but let me extend my deep appreciation to all individuals
who in one way or another took time and gave effort to make this investment
guide a reality.

May I then take this opportunity to warmly welcome all interested parties
to invest in Mbeya Region. I assure you of my office’s continued support to
making your investments productive and an attractive return on investment
for our mutual benefit.

Hon. Albert J. Chalamila

Regional Commissioner
Mbeya Region, Tanzania

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | xi

 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Mbeya Region is one of the 31 administrative regions in the United Republic

of Tanzania, with Mbeya City Council and six local government authorities,
which are Mbeya District Council, Chunya District Council, Rungwe District
Councils, Busokelo District Council, Mbarali District Council and Kyela District
Council. Mbeya Region is located in the Southern Highlands in the south-
western corner of Tanzania.

The region borders the Republic of Malawi to the south and Songwe Region
to the west, Singida and Tabora regions to the north and Iringa and Njombe
regions to the east, with Kasumulu in Kyela District being the main entry and/
or exit point into the neighbouring country of the Republic of Malawi.

The region is close to Tanzania’s capital, Dodoma City and well served
with tarmac roads from the country’s commercial centre, Dar es Salaam.
Further, the region has easy access to the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), Malawi, Zambia and other southern African neighbouring countries
through the Tanzania - Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) via Mbeya City.
It also has investor-supportive infrastructure, including relatively good road
network, electricity supply from the national grid, ample amount of water
and an international airport that facilitates travel of passengers and cargo to
domestic destinations, especially to Dar es Salaam.

The region’s population stands at 2,298,317 (projections) in 2019 of which

80 percent depends on agriculture as a means of livelihood. Agriculture
contributes about 40 percent of the regional income. Other economic activities
include livestock and bee keeping, fishing, commerce, manufacturing, mining
and tourism.

Mbeya Region enjoys the country’s conducive investment and trade policies,
political stability and well-prepared development frameworks based on the
National Development Vision 2025; which provides conducive environment
for domestic and foreign investors. The region’s untapped spectacular tourist
attractions and minerals’ potential offer unique opportunities to domestic
and foreign investors to be developed for mutual benefits of the investor, the
region and the country.

xii | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

The region has prioritised investment opportunities and is inviting interested
and potential individuals and companies to invest in the production of
packaging materials for both primary and secondary processing industries;
meat processing; leather products processing; milk processing primary
and secondary processing of horticulture, floriculture and herbs products;
construction of a dry port, modern sports stadium and recreation facilities;
animal feeds processing; banana processing; avocado processing; cocoa
processing; sunflower processing; Irish potatoes processing; honey processing;
water bottling; cashew nut block farming; paddy processing and packaging;
fish farming and processing; farm machinery hire services; manufacturing of
various products from rice husks and other wood products; construction of
commercial cold rooms and refrigeration services; development of irrigation
farming infrastructure; commercial business and trade service facilities;
construction of modern bus stations and vehicle parking facility; provision
of social services such as hospitals, health care centres, dispensaries, primary/
secondary schools and vocational training institutes; minerals including
stone quarrying; and tourism and hospitality (skyline tourism, construction
of hotels, motels and campsites, and establishment of tour guide companies,
etc.).

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | xiii

 DISCLAIMER

This guidebook was published to provide potential investors with access

to essential information regarding investments and investing in Mbeya
Region. The guidebook does not in any way give exhaustive information or
detailed practical instructions, but it points out sources of other information
in both private and public sectors. Most of or all information contained in
this guidebook was derived from consultations with regional and district
government officials, the private sector and other agencies. Depending
on the nature of investment, potential investors are expected to conduct
feasibility studies and/or environmental impact assessments for detailed
information.

Materials in this guidebook should therefore be used only for the intended
purposes and not for defence in a legal dispute or in any other matter of that
nature.

The guide is presented in good faith and in cognisance of the 2018

Amendment to the Statistics Act (2015). Where a datum point used in this
guide unknowingly contradicts an official statistic, it should be deemed an
error and the official statistic should be assumed to be correct.

xiv | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 PART ONE

REASONS FOR INVESTING

IN MBEYA REGION

1.1 Mbeya Region in the Broader Tanzanian Context

Mbeya Region is one of the 31 administrative regions in the United Republic
of Tanzania, with Mbeya City Council and six local government authorities,
namely Mbeya District Council, Chunya District Council, Rungwe District
Council, Busokelo District Council, Mbarali District Council and Kyela District
Council. Mbeya Region enjoys the country’s conducive investment and
trade policies, political stability and well-prepared development frameworks
based on the National Development Vision 2025. Tanzania, with its large
and growing domestic population, strategic location, abundance of natural
resources and internal political stability, presents a uniquely attractive
investment opportunity to investors.

Tanzania’s abundant natural resources include agriculture land; water bodies

such as lakes, rivers and springs; mineral resources; and tourist attractions,
including biodiversity and unique landscapes, such as Mount Kilimanjaro,
Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, which attract tourists from
all over the world. In addition, its location on the east coast of Africa gives
it a comparative advantage in providing trade and transport services to
neighbouring, land-locked countries. Several measures have been taken to
create a conducive business environment to encourage local and foreign
investment. The country has created a stable and attractive macro and micro-
economic climate with single-digit inflation. Furthermore, there are on-
going reforms in fiscal and monetary policy, as well as improvements in the
business climate through legal and regulatory reforms aimed at streamlining
procedures and freeing business from unnecessary bureaucracy.

Tanzania has sustained an average rate of 6-7 percent economic growth since
the late 1990s due to a relatively stable political environment, reasonable
macro-economic policies, structural reforms, a resiliency from external shocks
and debt relief. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2017 reported

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 1

that Tanzania’s macro-economic performance remains strong, its economic
growth is projected at about 7 percent, and inflation is expected to remain
close to the Government of Tanzania’s 5-percent target.

The Government recognises the role of the private sector (both local and
foreign) and other strategic partners as the engine of growth and poverty
reduction, and the drivers of economic transformation. This important role
of the private sector has been further emphasised in the current (Second)
Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP II: 2016/17-2020/21) by recognising that
the realisation of the goals and targets of FYDP II hinges on, among others,
effective participation of the private sector in developing industries and
enterprises that spur economic growth and create jobs.

1.2 Investment Climate and Trade Policy in Tanzania

The Government of Tanzania has reviewed its policies and regulations in order
to attract local and foreign private investment. This is evidenced by the recent
development of the Blueprint for Regulatory Reforms to Improve the Business
Environment. The recommendations of the Blueprint are being implemented
at reasonable speed, including merging similar functions of regulatory
institutions, abolishing nuisance taxes and fees, improving dialogue between
Government and private sector etc. Specifically, the Government removed
118 nuisance taxes in 2018/19 and 54 in 2019/20; reviewed the National
Investment Promotion Policy (1996) and Tanzania Investment Act, 1997;
merged some of the functions from the former Tanzania Food and Drugs
Authority (TFDA) to the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), among others.

The country has adopted the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Trade-related
Investment Measures (TRIMs) to encourage investments in line with national
priorities, and to attract and regulate foreign investments. Trade development
instruments that Tanzania has adopted include establishment of export
processing zones (EPZs), investment code and rules, export development/
promotion and export facilitation. EPZs were established by the 2002 EPZ
Act and are open to both domestic and foreign investors, particularly in agri-
business, textiles and electronics sectors. The Special Economic Zones Act
of 2006 authorised the establishment of special economic zones (SEZs) to
encourage Greenfield investments in light industry, agro-processing industry
and agriculture.

2 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

The Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) governs both EPZs and SEZs.
The Government has encouraged both local and foreign investors to take
advantage of the investment opportunities under EPZA for their benefit and
for the benefit of the country. There are three categories of licences issued by
EPZA:

i) Developer’s licence: for investment in infrastructure development, including

construction of industrial buildings and warehouses, development of
internal roads, landscaping and fencing, and provision of utilities
ii) Operator’s licence: for investors who are undertaking manufacturing
operations, including manufacturing, processing breaking bulk, re-
packaging, re-labelling and trading
iii) Service provider’s licence: for investors who are providing services and
utilities to EPZ and SEZ investors within the zone, including banking,
insurance, and information and communication technologies (ICTs).

EPZA also oversees incentive packages such as exemptions from corporate

tax and withholding tax on rent; dividends and interest; remission of customs
duty, value-added tax (VAT) and other taxes on raw materials and capital
goods; and exemption from VAT on utilities and levies imposed by local
authorities. In addition, working permits for foreign staff can be issued by
EPZA. More information can be found on the website www.epza.go.tz and
email address is info@epza.go.tz.

All the above factors, plus the country’s well formulated development-cum-
strategic frameworks, have contributed to continuous real GDP growth of
about seven percent (7%) for over a decade, and is a member of what the
World Bank has dubbed the “7-percent Club”, a group of countries forecast to
achieve 7 percent or more real GDP growth for the next decade.

Investments in Tanzania are guaranteed against nationalisation and

expropriation through various agreements of protection and promotion of
investments, such as the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA),
of which Tanzania is a member. Tanzania also offers access to major markets
of the world, such as America through the Africa Growth Opportunity
Act (AGOA); Europe through Everything-But-Arms (EBA); Asia (e.g. India
and China), and Middle East, all done through special bilateral trade and
investment agreements and arrangements.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 3

Tanzania is also a member of two major regional economic communities
(RECs), namely the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and
the East African Community (EAC). With the upcoming of the SADC-EAC-
COMESA Tripartite, Tanzania is linked to COMESA as well.

The regional economic communities are growing stronger, and so investors

in Tanzania will have the advantage of accessing both domestic and regional
markets as well as the export markets in the European Union, the United
States, the growing Asian economies of China and India, and in the Middle
East, to mention only the leading ones.

The domestic market is significant, given Tanzania’s population of about 58

million people, growing at a rate of 2.7 percent per annum, and a growing
middle class. Both EAC and SADC are growing stronger, so investors in
Tanzania will have the advantage of accessing domestic, regional and
international markets.

Briefly, the following are among the reasons why one should invest in Tanzania:

a) 
There is a high degree of investment security because of unparalleled
political stability that is strife-free of ethnic divisions, has democratic
rule of law that respects diversity of opinion and a strong tradition of
constitution and rule of law
b) 
The country has maintained business-friendly macro-economic stability
with low inflation (around 5%), stable exchange rates supported by
unrestricted and unconditional transfers of profits, loan repayments,
emoluments, royalties, fees and charges
c) 
There is a commitment to ensuring simplified bureaucracy, streamlined
through the acclaimed services of the Tanzania Investment Centre,
which is a one-stop facilitation agency of Government registering
projects and serving registered investment projects
d) 
The Government of Tanzania is committed to, and has successfully
undertaken, economic liberalisation measures commended by both
the World Bank and IMF with business-supportive legislation continually
being improved through genuine dialogue between the Government
and the private sector
e) 
There is a well-balanced package of incentives to investors with
additional negotiated benefits to strategic investors

4 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

f ) 
The economy is rapidly emerging as the most effective entry point and
gateway for trade into eastern, southern and central Africa
g) There are lucrative investment opportunities in infrastructure and
value-adding facilities that are among the fastest growing segments of
the economy
h) The Government is committed to ensuring investment guarantees and
settlement of disputes. Investments in Tanzania are guaranteed against
political risks, nationalisation and expropriation.
i) Foreign business operating in Tanzania may obtain credit from
domestic financial institutions up to the limits established by the Bank
of Tanzania. Major international banks like Barclays, Citibank, Exim,
Stanbic, and Standard Chartered have invested in Tanzania. Among
the banks with branches in Mbeya Region are CRDB Bank, NBC
Limited, National Microfinance Bank Limited, TPB Bank, and several
other banks.

1.3 Specific Attractive Investment Conditions for Mbeya

Region
A. 
Railway and Road Transport

i. Railway: There is a railway Figure 1: Mbeya Region Road Network

line that runs from Dar es
Salaam to Kapiri-Mposhi in
Zambia via Mbeya under
the Tanzania Zambia
Railway Authority (TAZARA).
The railway transports both
passengers and goods.

ii. Road: Mbeya Region

is served with 1,270
kilometres of relatively
good road network of both
main tarmac roads and all-
weather passable feeder
roads.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 5

B. 
Civil Aviation and Air
Transport

There is a newly established Songwe

International Airport which caters
for large and small planes for both
passengers and cargo to the rest of the
world. There are also small airports for
non-scheduled air transport services
operating in Chunya, Mbarali and Rungwe districts.

C. Marine Transport

Marine transport in Mbeya Region is done through Lake Nyasa. There

are ships travelling to the southern part of Tanzania (Ruvuma Region) and
neighbouring country of Malawi docking at Itungi Port.

D. Telecommunication and Media Coverage

Mbeya Region enjoys a wide coverage of cellular telephone services in

both urban and rural areas, which are provided by several service providers,
including TIGO, VODACOM, AIRTEL, HALOTEL, TTCL and ZANTEL. New mobile
users are attracted to subscribe to available companies in the region to
facilitate their business communications and operations.

The region also enjoys media diversity including print media in Kiswahili
and English such as Daily News, Habari Leo, Sunday News, The Guardian and
Nipashe, to mention but just a few. Radio stations broadcasting in the region
(with local, national and international coverage) include Mbeya FM, Radio
Free Africa, Radio One, Clouds FM, Radio Maria, Generation FM, Bomba FM,
TBC Taifa, TBC FM, Ushindi FM and BBC). There are also television stations such
TBC, Star TV, ITV and Channel Ten. The media is able to cover most districts
and offers up-to-date information about Mbeya Region.

E. Financial Institutions

Mbeya has a Bank of Tanzania (BoT) branch, which has effectively contributed
to the overall development of the region as well as to the development

6 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

of other parts of Southern Highlands Zone through provision of various
monetary, economic and financial services to stakeholders in the area. The
Bank of Tanzania ensures the existence of financial system that provides
smooth, efficient and effective financial services to the economy. The Bank
guarantees credit to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through Export
Credit Guarantee Scheme (ECGS).

The region also enjoys other banking services from the National Bank of
Commerce (NBC), National Microfinance Bank (NMB), CRDB Bank, TPB Bank,
Akiba Commercial Bank, and Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA).

F. Power Supply

Mbeya Region is connected to the national electricity grid; all LGAs are served
with electricity in urban areas and most rural areas have access to electricity.
The Rural Electricity Agency (REA) has been mandated by Government to
ensure all rural areas have access to electricity.

G. Good Climatic Conditions

The region has diverse agro-ecological zones with favourable climate for
crops cultivation and livestock keeping. Temperatures are also moderate,
which allow for smooth economic activities.

H. Health Care Facilities

Mbeya Region has a referral hospital located in Mbeya City and 336 public
and private health care facilities located in various places in the region.

1.4 Suggested Priority Investment Areas in Mbeya Region

Interested parties are welcome to invest in the following suggested priority
investment areas, which are more detailed in Part Three of this guide.

1.4.1 Summary of Regional-Level Priority Investment Opportunities

Interested parties are welcome to invest in the following suggested priority

investment areas:

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 7

i. Production of packaging materials for both primary and secondary
processing industries
ii. Meat processing
iii. Leather products processing
iv. Milk processing
v.  Primary and secondary processing of horticulture, floriculture and
herbs products
vi. Construction of a dry port
vii. Production of pharmaceuticals
viii. Animal feeds processing
ix. Construction of an industrial park.

1.4.2 Summary of Council-Level Priority Investment Opportunities

i. Banana processing
ii. Avocado processing
iii. Cocoa processing
iv. Sunflower processing
v. Round potatoes processing
vi. Honey processing
vii. Water bottling
viii. Cashew nut block farming
ix. Paddy processing and packaging
x. Fish farming and processing
xi. Farm machinery hire services
xii. Manufacturing of various products from rice husks and other wood
products
xiii. Construction of a modern sports stadium and recreation facilities
xiv. Commercial business and trade service facilities
xv. Construction of modern bus stations and vehicle parking facilities
xvi. Construction of hospitals, health care centres and dispensaries
xvii. Construction of primary/secondary schools and vocational training
institutes
xviii. Construction of commercial cold rooms and refrigeration services
xix. Development of irrigation farming infrastructure
xx. Extraction of minerals and stone quarrying
xxi. Construction of a factory for producing dustless chalks, limestone
marble products and lamp shades

8 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

xxii. Tourism and hospitality industry (skyline tourism, construction of hotels,
motels, and campsites, and establishment of tour guide companies,
etc.).

1.5 The Guide’s Target Groups

For prospective investors to make sound decisions on where and in which
sector to invest requires adequate information, and so is the ability by public
officials to provide correct information on investment opportunities to
investors.

The main target for this guide is therefore national and international
prospective investors interested in starting new businesses or acquiring
existing ones in various sectors; resident investors within the region with
businesses and who seek to either expand their current operations or
venture into new businesses; and Government ministries responsible for
assisting business owners. Specifically, the following are the beneficiaries
of the guide:

 Investors, business owners and stakeholders, agriculture crop estates and

medium-to-large farms as well as value-adding and marketing entities
intending to invest in Mbeya designated industry and business areas
 Prime Minister’s Office (Investment)
 Government ministries, local government authorities, agencies,
institutions, EPZA, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs), for example
those responsible for agriculture, industries, trade, finance, and
international cooperation
 Primary stakeholders across value chains, including individual
entrepreneurs, importers and exporters of input and output factors,
farmers, livestock keepers and fisher folks
 Academicians, researchers and extension service providers
 Umbrella organisations such as the Tanzania National Business Council
(TNBC), Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
(TCCIA), pension and provident funds investing in agriculture and
industries, and other support institutions
 Institutions overseeing the management of quality and safety
management issues, such as Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and
Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA)

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 9

 Organisations providing productive capacities, information and data,
monitoring and evaluation and other business support services. Such
organisations are Textiles Development Unit (TDU), Business Registration
and Licensing Agency (BRELA), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Fair
Competition Commission (FCC), National Economic Empowerment
Council (NEEC), Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TANTRADE),
Industry Support Organisations (ISOs), agricultural and industrial
extension services providers, etc.
 Selected civil society organisations (CSOs), non-government
organisations (NGOs) and development partners (DPs) such as the
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), World Bank (WB), United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), International Trade Centre
(ITC), European Union (EU), United Nations Industrial Development
Organisation (UNIDO), and TradeMark East Africa (TMEA).

10 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 PART T WO

SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF
MBEYA REGION

This part details the geographical location, surface area, population and
demographic pattern, administrative units, topography and land use patterns,
agro-ecological zones, climate, socio-economic context and productive
sectors of Mbeya Region.

2.1 Geographic Location and Boundaries

Mbeya Region is one of the 31 administrative regions of the United Republic
of Tanzania located in the Southern Highlands Zone in the south-western
corner of Tanzania between latitudes 70 and 90 31’ south of the Equator and
between longitudes Figure 2: Map of Mbeya Region
320 and 350 east of
Greenwich.

Mbeya Region shares

borders with the
Republic of Malawi
to the south and
Songwe Region to
the west, Singida and
Tabora regions to the
north and Iringa and
Njombe regions to the
east, with Kasumulu
in Kyela District being
the main entry and/
or exit point into the
neighbouring country
of the Republic of
Malawi.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 11

2.2 Land Area
Mbeya Region covers a total surface area of 35,232.2 square kilometres,
which is about 4.0 percent of the total surface area of the United Republic
of Tanzania excluding sea area (947,300 sq. km). Out of the region’s total
surface area, 34,736.3 square kilometres are dry land and 495.9 square
kilometres are covered with water bodies (rivers and lakes). Mbeya City
Council (250.2 sq. km) and Busokelo District Council (847.1 sq. km) have the
smallest land areas.

Table 1: Mbeya Region Land Area

Percent
Percent Total
Land Area Water Area Share of
LGA Share of Surface
(sq.km) (sq.km) Total Surface
Land Area Area
Area
Chunya District Council 13,149.0 37.9 0 13,149.0 37.3
Mbeya District Council 2,432.0 7.0 0 2,432.0 6.9
Kyela District Council 826.5 2.4 495.5 1,322.0 3.8
Rungwe District Council 1,231.6 3.5 0.3 1,231.9 3.5
Busokelo District Council 847.1 2.4 0 847.1 2.4
Mbarali District Council 16,000.0 46.1 0 16,000.0 45.4
Mbeya City Council 250.1 0.7 0.1 250.2 0.7
Regional Total 34,736.3 100.0 495.9 35,232.2 100.0
Source: Mbeya Regional Commissioners Office, Socio-economic Profile, May
2020.

2.3 Population
According to the 2012 population census, Mbeya Region’s population was
about 1.7 million people and projection for 2019 was 2.1 million. Mbeya City
Council, Mbarali District Council and Mbeya District Council have the largest
population.

12 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 Table 2: Population of Mbeya Region
Actual Population - 2012 Population Projected Population
LGA and Housing Census for Year 2019
Male Female Total Male Female Total
Chunya District Council 79,331 77,455 156,786 100,829 96,543 197,372
Mbeya District Council 143,779 161,540 305,319 181,400 198,347 379,747
Kyela District Council 106,012 115,478 221,490 133,130 141,667 274,797
Rungwe District Council 115,510 127,299 242,809 145,035 157,395 302,430
Busokelo District Council 45,739 50,609 96,348 56,574 61,881 118,455
Mbarali District Council 145,867 154,650 300,517 184,384 192,078 376,462
Mbeya City Council 182,620 202,659 385,279 233,091 254,260 487,351
Total 818,858 889,690 1,708,548 1,034,443 1,102,171 2,136,614
Source: NBS (2019). Sub-National Population Projection for Year 2013 to 2021
Based on the 2012 Population and Housing Census

2.4 Administrative Units

Mbeya Region has 7 councils, which are Mbeya City Council (MCC), Busokelo
District Council, Rungwe District Council, Kyela District Council, Chunya
District Council, Mbarali District Council, and Mbeya District Council. The
regions have15 divisions, 179 wards, 547 villages, 181 mitaa.

Table 3: Administrative Units of Mbeya Region

Land Area Number of Number Number of Number of
Council
(sq. kms) Division of Wards Villages Mitaa
Chunya District Council 13,149.0 2 20 43 -
Mbeya District Council 2,432.0 3 28 154 -
Kyela District Council 826.5 2 33 93 -
Rungwe District Council 1,231.6 3 29 99 -
Busokelo District Council 847.1 1 13 56 -
Mbarali District Council 16,000.00 2 20 102 -
Mbeya City Council 250.1 2 36 - 181
Regional Total 34,736.3 15 179 547 181
Source: Mbeya Regional Commissioner’s Office, Socio-economic Profile, May 2020

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 13

2.5 The Regional Economy
The economy of Mbeya Region is based on agriculture, livestock keeping, bee
keeping, fishing, commerce and manufacturing.

Other economic activities and potentials include mining and tourism. On

the basis of current prices, in 2018, Mbeya Regional Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) was about TZS 7.31 trillion and per capita income was TZS 3,506,101.
The region contributed 5.65 percent of the national income (GDP) ranking
fourth nation-wide after Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanza and Shinyanga regions.

2.6 Climate, Soils and Topography

a) Climate

Mbeya Region has a tropical climate, with temperatures ranging between

16oC in the highlands and 25oC in the lowlands. Rainfall period is from
October to May, with an annual rainfall of 650 millimetres in Usangu Plains
and Chunya, and 2,600 millimetres on the northern shores of Lake Nyasa and
highlands in Rungwe District Council. The region experiences a cold and dry
season between June and September.

b) Soils

The region’s soils and vegetation type show high variation. In most of the
arable land of the region, soils are of moderate fertility, with medium texture
and varying from sandy loams, alluvial soils to cracking clays. Vegetation
cover is Miombo woodland that occupies most of the areas, with rains
ranging from 800 millimetres to 1,200 millimetres per annum. Areas with less
rain, especially in the north of the region, support the growth of wooded
grassland and bush-land of dense thickets of acacia and other thorny trees.

c) Topography

Most of the areas in the region are the result of the Great Rift Valley, while the
lowland elevation occupies the Western Rift Zone that covers Lake Rukwa
and Lake Nyasa areas, and the Eastern Rift Zone covering the Usangu Plains
and the neighbouring parts of the Ruaha Trough. Altitudes range from 475

14 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

metres above sea level in Lake Nyasa to over 2,900 metres above sea level on
the peak of Mount Rungwe.

2.7 Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ)

Mbeya Region has three agro-ecological zones, namely highlands, mid-lands
and low lands.

a) High Lands Zone

The highland zone constitutes the Central Mbeya Plain, Mbeya Highlands,
Ilembo and Poroto highlands, West Rungwe Plain, East and Central Rungwe,
South Usangu Plain and North Kyela and southern parts of Rungwe. These
areas are at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,400 metres above sea level and have cool
temperatures.

The highlands zone receives rainfall that exceeds 2,500 millimetres per annum.
Common crops grown in these areas include maize, groundnuts, beans, wheat,
potatoes, coffee, bananas, tea, avocado, spices (cardamom), pyrethrum and
cocoa. Livestock keeping is also an important economic activity.

b) Mid-Lands Zone

The mid-lands agro-ecological zone occupies an area within altitudes ranging

from 800 to 1,500 metres above sea level and covers an area that include
Rukwa Valley and North Usangu Plain. This zone receives an annual rainfall
that ranges from 700 millimetres in North Usangu Plain and 1,700 millimetres
in Hezya/Isangati in Mbeya District Council. Common crops cultivated in this
agro-ecological zone are maize, sorghum, finger millet, cotton, cowpeas,
groundnuts, cassava, beans, sunflower and paddy; livestock keeping is also
practised in this zone.

c) Low Lands Zone

The low land agro-ecological zone lies at an altitude of between 500 and
1,000 metres above sea level, covering the North Chunya Plain, Central
Chunya, Msangaji Plateau and Kyela Lowlands. The zone experiences warm
temperatures and an average rainfall of less than 1,000 millimetres, except

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 15

for Kyela Lowlands, whose annual rainfall is higher at about 2,500 millimetres.
Common crops grown in this zone are tobacco, maize, sorghum, finger millet,
cassava, groundnuts, sunflower, cocoa, cashew nuts, oil palm, paddy and
bananas. Animal husbandry practised in low lands includes cattle, goats and
sheep.

2.8 River Basins in the Region

Mbeya Region has three river basins, which are Ruaha/Rufiji Basin that
extend towards the East, an inland Lake Rukwa Basin in the north-west
and Lake Nyasa Basin in the south. The surface runoff pattern corresponds
closely to the unimodal rainfall distribution. The south highlands on the
Southern Plateau of Tanzania form a watershed area of the main drainage
in the region.

The main rivers in the region include Great Ruaha, Zira, Songwe, Kiwira, Lufilyo
and Mbaka. The Great Ruaha River is fed by Kimani, Chimala, Igurusi and other
tributaries, which are one of the inlets to the Indian Ocean. Rivers Zira and
Songwe form an inland drainage into Lake Rukwa, while rivers Kiwira, Lufilyo
and Mbaka drain southwards into Lake Nyasa.

Songwe River Mbaka River

2.9 Productive Sectors

The main productive sectors of Mbeya Region that are the main drivers of the
regional economy include agriculture (crops and livestock), natural resources,
(forest, fish, wildlife and minerals), tourism and industrial development. These
are discussed briefly as follows:

16 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

2.9.1 Agriculture Sector

Agriculture dominates the livelihood and economic performance of Mbeya

Region. The sector contributes about 40 percent to the regional economy
and employs about 80 percent of the working population in the region.
Agriculture is predominantly peasantry farming and a small number of
commercial farming of tea in Rungwe District and rice in Mbarali District.

i) Major food crops

Mbeya Region is famously

known as the “bread basket”
of Tanzania, growing a variety
of food crops including
maize, paddy, sorghum,
beans, round potatoes, sweet
potatoes, cassava, bananas,
groundnuts, simsim, fruits
and vegetables. As Table 4
shows, Rungwe, Mbeya and
Mbarali District Councils were
the main food producers in
2017 - 2019, with annual production of 1,144,346.4 tonnes or 37.2% (Rungwe
District Council); 530,064.8 tonnes or 17.2% (Mbeya District Council); and
490,644.3 tonnes or 15.9% (Mbarali District Council).

Busokelo District Council (387,907.9 tonnes or 12.6%), Kyela District Council (

246,393.8 tonnes or 8.0%), Chunya District Council (224,170.8 tonnes or 7.3%),
and Mbeya City Council (54,504.5 tonnes or 1.8%) also produce substantial
amount of food crops.

In terms of types of crops, irish/round potatoes is the main crop (925,266.9

tonnes), followed by maize (669,079.8), banana plantain (541,493.0 tonnes),
paddy (396,044.8 tonnes), cassava (231,853.4 tonnes), and sweet potatoes
(170,906.8 tonnes). Other crops, whose annual production is below 100,000
tonnes, include beans, wheat, sorghum, cow peas, and cocoyam.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 17

 Table 4: Estimated Production in Tonnes of Major Food Crops in Mbeya Region

Crop
Rank

Total

Kyela

Period
Mbeya
Percent

District
District
District
District
District
District

Council
Council
Council
Council
Council
Council
Council

Chunya
Mbarali
Rungwe
Busokelo

Mbeya City
Maize 188,843.0 11,000.0 96,000.0 235,256.0 19,100.0 103,900.0 46,979.0 701,078.0 22.5 2

Irish/Round
- - - 270,990.0 33,875.0 503,119.0 131,372.0 939,356.0 30.1 1
Potatoes

18 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

Paddy 8,390.0 86,000.0 295,350.0 198.0 - 3,050.0 12,317.0 405,305.0 13.0 4
Banana
3,183.0 105,000.0 - 200.0 10.0 281,400.0 147,937.0 537,730.0 17.2 3
Plantain
Beans 13,885.0 575.0 44,200.0 23,645.0 1,693.0 22,077.0 6,198.0 112,273.0 3.6 7
Sweet
14,294.0 4,800.0 20,948.0 16,190.0 8.0 105,473.5 1,906.0 163,619.5 5.2 6
Potatoes
Cassava 2,205.0 43,500.0 31,295.0 108.0 - 114,724.0 29,509.7 221,341.7 7.1 5
Wheat - - - 5,355.0 478.0 - - 5,833.0 0.2 10
Cow peas - - - - - - - - - 11

Food Crops Production in 2019 in Tonnes

Sorghum 5,231.0 - 5,054.0 - - - 10,285.0 0.3 9
Cocoyam 12.0 - - - 25.7 7,904.0 13,819.0 21,760.7 0.7 8
Total 236,043.0 250,875.0 492,847.0 551,942.0 55,189.7 1,141,647.5 390,037.7 3,118,581.9 100.0

Percentage 7.6 8.0 15.8 17.7 1.8 36.6 12.5 100.0

 Crop
Total
Rank

Kyela

Period
Mbeya

District
District
District
District
District
District

Council
Council
Council
Council
Council
Council
Council

Chunya
Percent

Mbarali
Rungwe
Busokelo

Mbeya City
Maize 170,861.0 10,875.0 91,538.8 229,374.5 18,661.8 101,910.0 45,858.8 669,079.8 21.7 2
Irish/Round
- - - 255,079.3 33,874.9 505,103.3 131,209.5 925,266.9 30.1 1
Potatoes

Paddy 6,934.5 81,700.0 292,370.0 188.2 - 2,975.2 11,877.0 396,044.8 12.9 4

Banana
2,814.3 104,625.0 - 168.8 7.5 286,109.0 147,768.5 541,493.0 17.6 3
Plantain
Beans 12,058.0 543.8 35,168.0 20,420.3 1,461.0 22,265.8 5,638.8 97,555.5 3.2 7
Sweet
19,823.5 4,900.0 20,948.0 18,215.0 8.0 104,986.8 2,025.5 170,906.8 5.6 6
Potatoes
Cassava 3,510.5 43,750.0 40,532.5 162.0 - 113,092.0 30,806.4 231,853.4 7.5 5
Wheat - - - 5,708.0 478.5 - - 6,186.5 0.2 10
Cow peas 593.5 - 2,500.0 213.8 - - - 3,307.3 0.1 11
Sorghum 7,555.5 - 7,587.0 535.0 - - - 15,677.5 0.5 9

Annual Average Production (2017 - 2019) in Tonnes

Cocoyam 20.0 - - - 12.8 7,904.5 12,723.5 20,660.8 0.7 8
Total 224,170.8 246,393.8 490,644.3 530,064.8 54,504.5 1,144,346.4 387,907.9 3,078,032.2 100.0
Percentage 7.3 8.0 15.9 17.2 1.8 37.2 12.6 100.0

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 19

Source: Mbeya Regional Commissioner’s Office 2020
ii) Cash crops

The main cash crops grown

in the region are coffee, tea,
tobacco, pyrethrum, wheat,
sunflower, spices, cocoa and
oil palm. These crops are
mainly produced by small-
holder farmers. Tea, coffee
and spices crops are mainly
produced in Rungwe and
Busokelo districts. Pyrethrum
and wheat are produced in
Mbeya District, cocoa and oil
palm crops are mainly grown in Kyela, Rungwe and Busokelo districts. Tobacco
is mainly grown in Chunya District, while sunflower is grown in Mbarali and
Chunya districts.

The annual main cash crop production is as follows: Mbarali District Council
(45,513.0 tonnes or 39.1%), Chunya District Council (31,332.5 or 26.9%) and
Kyela District Council (12,121.8 or 10.4%). Other LGAs produce less than 10
percent of the cash crops.

In terms of production by crop type, the five most important crops are
groundnuts (35,008.5 tonnes), sunflower (29,973.0 tonnes), tea (16,052.3
tonnes), tobacco (11,960.0 tonnes), cocoa (10,336.5 tonnes), and coffee
(3,931.7 tonnes). Other cash crops with less than 3,000 tonnes include oil
palm, pyrethrum, peas, sesame/simsim, and cashewnuts.

20 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 Table 5: Estimated Production in Tonnes of Major Cash Crops in Mbeya Region

Crop
Total
Rank

Kyela

Period
Mbeya

District
District
District
District
District
District

Council
Council
Council
Council
Council
Council
Council

Chunya
Percent

Mbarali
Rungwe
Busokelo

Mbeya City
Groundnuts 8,684.0 1,100.0 15,301.0 286.0 - - 121.0 25,492.0 26.8 1
Sesame/
772.0 - 208.0 146.0 - - - 1,126.0 1.2 10
Simsim
Tea - - - 8,109.5 9,471.0 17,580.5 18.5 3
Sunflower 7,469.0 - 11,309.0 - - - 18,778.0 19.7 2
Cocoa - 8,145.0 - - - - 1,295.9 9,440.9 9.9 5
Coffee - - - 2,722.3 182.0 656.2 33.8 3,594.3 3.8 6
Tobacco 11,960.0 - - - - - - 11,960.0 12.6 4
Oil Palm - 2,100.0 - - - - 60.2 2,160.2 2.3 9
Pyrethrum - - - 2,389.1 - 0.8 - 2,389.9 2.51 8

Production in 2019 in Tonnes

Peas - - - 2,054.0 236.0 117.0 19.0 2,426.0 2.55 7
Cashewnuts - 308.6 - - - - - 308.6 0.3 11
Cardamom
- - - - - 24.7 - 24.7 0.03 12
(Iliki)
Total 28,885.0 11,653.6 26,818.0 7,597.4 418.0 8,908.2 11,000.9 95,281.1 100.0

Percentage 30.3 12.2 28.1 8.0 0.4 9.3 11.5 100.0

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 21

 Crop
Total
Rank

Kyela

Period
Mbeya

District
District
District
District
District
District

Council
Council
Council
Council
Council
Council
Council

Chunya
Percent

Mbarali
Rungwe
Busokelo

Mbeya City
Groundnuts 7,643.0 1,135.0 25,650.5 286.0 - - 294.0 35,008.5 30.1 1
Sesame/
1,411.0 - 208.0 146.0 - - - 1,765.0 1.5 10
Simsim
Tea - - - - - 8,035.8 8,016.5 16,052.3 13.8 3

22 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

Sunflower 10,318.5 - 19,654.5 - - - - 29,973.0 25.7 2
Cocoa - 8,197.5 - - - 373.0 1,766.0 10,336.5 8.9 5
Coffee - - - 3,062.7 182.0 653.1 33.9 3,931.7 3.4 6
Tobacco 11,960.0 - - - - - - 11,960.0 10.3 4
Oil Palm - 2,325.0 - - - - 30.1 2,355.1 2.0 8
Pyrethrum - - - 2,048.1 - 0.9 - 2,049.0 1.8 9
Peas - - - 2,168.0 253.5 122.0 9.5 2,553.0 2.2 7
Cashewnuts - 464.3 - - - - - 464.3 0.4 11

Annual Average Production (2017 - 2019) in Tonnes

Cardamom
- - - - - 21.9 - 21.9 0.02 12
(Iliki)
Total 31,332.5 12,121.8 45,513.0 7,710.7 435.5 9,206.6 10,150.0 116,470.1 100.0
Percentage 26.9 10.4 39.1 6.6 0.4 7.9 8.7 100.0
Source: Mbeya Regional Commissioner’s Office 2020
iii) Irrigation agriculture

Mbeya Region is estimated to

have 110,721 hectares suitable
for irrigation, of which 25,420
hectares are under irrigation,
25,626 hectares are developed
schemes and 85,096 hectares
are under traditionally irrigated
schemes. Rice is the main crop
grown under irrigation. Water for irrigation is tapped from various perennial
rivers by gravity.

2.9.2 Livestock

Livestock keeping is the

second most predominant
economic activity in the
region. The sector plays a
significant role in the rural
economy of Mbeya Region
and has great potential for
increased production.

The region has favourable

climatic conditions for
livestock keeping, particularly, cattle, goats, sheep, chicken and pigs. In 2019
Rungwe District Council was the main cattle producer, with 43 percent of
the total number of cattle in the region. Livestock keepers in the region rear
both indigenous and improved breeds of cattle and chicken. There are huge
potential investment opportunities in increasing livestock production and
value addition of its produce.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 23

Table 6: Livestock Population and Marketed Livestock in 2019 in Mbeya Region
Cattle Goats Sheep Chicken Pigs

Population

Population

Population

Population

Population
Marketed

Marketed

Marketed

Marketed

Marketed
LGA

Chunya District
282,547 16,825 33,879 9,833 10,251 923 142,087 43,788 10,646 637
Council
Kyela District
44,275 5,214 2,200 112 487 56 849,135 124,914 32,911 1,646
Council
Mbarali District
198,637 24,932 86,087 24,304 38,491 9,924 250,053 75,005 11,889 594
Council
Mbeya District
71,985 13,598 65,416 25,233 9,338 2,467 291,894 79,189 21,942 1,317
Council
Mbeya City
9,794 893 8,166 408 1,293 116 181,804 82,180 5,229 314
Council
Rungwe
49,200 6,460 7,462 373 1,432 129 173,155 65,584 23,309 1,166
District Council
Busokelo
44,231 5,654 1,835 147 101 18 272,187 94,497 14,918 746
District Council
2,160,315
700,669

205,045

565,157

120,844
73,576

60,410

61,393

13,633

6,420
Total

Source: Mbeya Regional Commissioner’s Office 2020

2.9.3 Natural Resources

Mbeya Region is endowed with large and unique natural resources, which
include forestry, bees, fish, wildlife, tourist attractions and minerals. The sector
is very important in the contribution to social and economic development
of Mbeya Region. Natural resources also protect soils from erosion, conserve
water as well as wildlife and provides industrial material and non-wood
products such as honey and bee wax.

i) Forestry

Mbeya Region has an area of forestry covered

mostly with Miombo woodland. There are
also some plantations of pine trees in various
areas such as Kawetere in Mbeya District.
Forest resources serve a variety of functions,

24 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

such as providing timber and fuel-wood, producing honey, and conserving
the environment.

ii) Fisheries

Lake Nyasa in Mbeya Region is where

fishing activities are carried out in deep
water. This fresh water lake is known
for ornamental fish and delicious
“mbasa” fish, as well as for its marvellous
tourist attractions. Common types of
fish are engraulicyprissardive (dagaa),
opasaridium (mbasa), balius (mbelele),
synodontes riverine fishes, lungfish
(Kambale) tilapia (magege) and others. Lake Nyasa

Many fishermen in the region use traditional fishing gear and few use
outboard engines. Investment opportunities are available in providing speedy
ship services and tourist facilities, such as modern hotels and camp sites.

iii) Beekeeping

Miombo woodland forests mentioned above are characterised by rich

millineries species that make suitable sites for nursing bee colonies.
Beekeeping activities are carried in the region on commercial basis by small-
scale entrepreneurs, especially in Chunya District.

iv) Wildlife and Tourism

Mbeya Region is endowed with a large variety of wildlife. The region has
two national parks (Ruaha National Park and Kitulo National Park); two game
reserves (Mpanga Kipengere Game Reserve and Lukwati Piti Game Reserve);
open areas such as Rungwa Mzombe and Rungwa South; and several game
controlled areas.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 25

 Table 7: National Parks and Game Reserves found in Mbeya Region
Type Name Council
Kitulo National Park Mbeya District Council
National Parks Mbarali District Council and
Ruaha National Park
Chunya District Council
Mpanga Kipengere Game
Mbarali District Council
Reserve
Game Reserves Rukwati Piti Game Reserve Chunya District Council
Mount Rungwe Nature
Rungwe District Council
Reserve
Rungwa Mzombe Open
Chunya District Council
Open Areas Area
Rungwa South Open Area Chunya District Council
Source: Mbeya Region Natural Resources Section (Wildlife), 2020

Kitulo National Park and Mpanga Kipengere Game Reserve are famous for
their unique birds and flowers. Domestic and foreign tourists visiting Kitulo
National Park in Mbeya Region marvel at the only world renown natural
flower garden that hosts hundreds of various types of flowers.

26 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

The region attracts an increasing number of tourists to watch the over
68 varieties of animals, which include baboons, warthogs, waterbucks,
hippopotamus, hyenas, leopards, lions, cheater, elephants, buffalos,
crocodiles, snakes, tortoises, and a variety of birds such as ostrich and water
ducks, to mention but a few. White giraffes are found in the Rungwa-Ruaha
ecosystem, Kitulo National Park and Chunya Open Area.

The game reserves of Lukwati Piti in Chunya District Council and Mpanga
Kipengele in Mbarali District Council are darlings of tourists due to the great
number of faunae for tourists and for hunting. The open areas of Rungwa
Mzombe and Rungwa South also have many varieties of wildlife.

Tourist are particularly interested in viewing and photographic safaris,

certified game hunting, research and training activities etc. Below are some
of the wildlife species found in national parks and game reserves in Mbeya
Region.

Other spectacular tourist attractions among many in Mbeya Region include:

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 27

Mbeya Region has also a number of game controlled areas which host a variety
of wild animals. Common wildlife species found in the game-controlled areas
are sable, roan, buffalo, giraffe, Red Buck and hartebeest.

Table 8: Hunting blocks available in Mbeya Region in 2019

Council Name of the Game Size (sq km) Common Wildlife Species
Rungwa Mzombe Sable, Roan, Buffalo, Giraffe,
1,962
Open Area Red Buck, Hartebeest
Rungwa South Open Sable, Roan, Buffalo, Giraffe,
1,810
Area Red Buck, Hartebeest
Sable, Roan, Buffalo, Giraffe,
Piti West Open Area 1,068
Red Buck, Hartebeest
Chunya
Buffalo, Lion, Leopard,
Stable, Antelope, Hartebeest,
Reed Buck, Common Duiker,
Chunya Lukwati 3,308
Greater Kudu, Spotted
Hyaena, Eland, Giraffe,
Hippopotamus
Source: Mbeya Region, Compiled Data from Councils, 2019

28 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

v) Mining Sector

Mbeya Region is endowed with

a large variety of minerals. Most
mining operations in the region are
undertaken by small-scale operators
using rudimentary and unimproved
technology and most minerals are
yet to be extracted. The types of
minerals found in the region include
gold, coal, sand, stones, morum and
industrial minerals such as marble, limestone, iron ore and phosphates. There
are also large deposits of marble in Mbeya District Council, Rungwe District
and Mbarali District (Chalihumbi & Lugelele). Huge deposits of gold are found
in many areas of Chunya, Mbarali (Mabadaga) and Kyela (Mwalisi & Luvalisi).
More details are found in Part Three of this Guide.

2.10 Industrial Sector

The industrial sector in Mbeya
Region is dominated by small-scale
agro and forest-based industries. In
2016, there were 3,540 small-scale
industries in the region, with more
industries undertaking milling
(39.5%), carpentry (26.8%), timber
processing (11.5%) and welding
(9.0%). These employed 6,800
people in total. During the same
period, there were 13 medium-scale industries in the region, with Mbeya City
accounting for 61.5 percent of the total industries in this category. Large-scale
industries are few and include cement production, breweries, tea processing,
production of soft drinks, and granite and marble production. The location of
most industries is Mbeya City Council, followed by Rungwe District Council.

Mbeya Region prospect for accelerating industrialisation is high due

to availability of large variety of industrial inputs, unexploited mineral
endowments and highly attractive investment climate.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 29

 PA R T T H R E E

PRIORITY
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
IN MBEYA REGION

Priority investment opportunities identified by Mbeya Region are grouped

into regional level and council level as follows:

3.1 Land Earmarked for Investments

Mbeya Region has earmarked land for key investments prioritised by the region1.

Table 9: Land Earmarked for Investments in Mbeya Region

Area
Council Locations Investments targeted
earmarked (ha)
Micro, small and medium processing
Chunya District Mbugani, Kiwanja and 108.055 industries for agriculture produce and value
Council Kibaoni addition of minerals, particularly gold
Lupata, Itete, Kabula, Isange,
Busokelo District Luteba, Mpombo, Lwangwa, 79.0 Milk, fruits and cocoa processing
Council Mpata, Lufilyo, Kisegese,
Kisegela and Ntaba
Mbeya City Council 28 plots in Mbeya City 26.4 Industrial areas for various purposes
Kyela District Ipyana, Kajunjumele and Processing of fish, rice, palm oil, cocoa and
149.50
Council Busale cashew; and farm machinery manufacturing
Igawa, Rujewa, Lugelele,
Mbarali District Paddy and meat processing; and
Ubaruku, Madibira, Chimala, 438.00
Council construction of truck parking sites
Igurusi and Mapogoro
Micro, small and medium processing
Mbeya District Iwindi, Inyala, Ijombe and 133.55 industries for maize, sunflower and fruits;
Council Usangu Basin
and construction of dry port
Rungwe District Processing of milk and fruits; and
Kyimo and Iponjola 15
Council construction of a banana market centre
Total 1,600.48
Source: Mbeya Regional Office
Investors needing large areas of land for undertaking crop and livestock production and other
1

investments are welcome to seek regional/district leadership for assistance

30 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

3.2 Regional Level Priority Investment Opportunities
Based on availability of raw materials and/or availability of required
infrastructure to support particular investment(s), Mbeya Region has identified
nine (9) key investment opportunities to be recognised and implemented
at the region level. These include manufacturing of packaging materials for
both primary and secondary processing industries; meat processing; leather
products processing; milk processing; primary and secondary processing
of horticulture, floriculture and herbs products; construction of a dry port;
construction of an industrial park; animal feeds processing; and production
of pharmaceuticals. Regional level investment opportunities have two main
attributes: first, it is their scale and scope, which transcend beyond those
of individual local government authorities; and second, opportunities large
enough to serve all local government authorities in the region. Specific
details for each opportunity are given below.

A. Industrial Sector

1. Production of Packaging Materials for both Primary and Secondary

Processing Industries
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features  Interested parties are welcome to invest in the production
of packaging materials to suite various goods produced and
services offered in the region, in Tanzania and surplus for
export
 Inadequate supply of good quality packaging materials in
all LGAs for household use, industrial packing materials and
packing materials required for various agriculture produce
has increased demand for these types of industries
 Shortage of packaging materials has limited the promotion
of goods produced in
the region
 Regional authority,
through Mbeya City
Council, has earmarked 4
hectares of land at Sistila
area in Iyunga Ward and
Iwambi Block E for this
investment.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 31

  High demand for appropriate and quality packaging
Key
materials by individual processors, entrepreneurs, industries
investment
and for various agriculture produce
rationale
 Proper packaging materials will reduce post-harvest losses
and elongate shelf life of perishable produce, especially
horticulture crops
 Appropriate packaging materials provide basic functions,
namely simplified and easy to handle transportation,
protection against external wear and tear, and protection of
the necessary legal information on the content and use of a
product
 The region is inviting more investments in putting up
industries, markets, farming firms and shopping malls, all of
which will require packaging materials
 Packaging provides an opportunity to put a brand name
onto a product; this will help to promote the practice of
branded products and thus help to attract more customers
through the contact information on the labels and promote
exports.
Available  Committed and high political support at national, regional
support and local government levels
 Fairly good infrastructure (electricity and water supply,
good roads network and communication services) and
markets are available in the region and land has been
earmarked to be readily available to investors
 NEMC to support investor to ensure they meet statutory
environmental standards
 One-stop investment facilitation at the regional
headquarters in Mbeya City.

2. Meat Processing
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features  A modern meat processing plant with modern abattoir
is one of key industries that is on high demand in Mbeya
Region and has potential to serve surrounding regions
 There is currently no investment
in meat processing in any of
the LGAs of Mbeya Region nor
in neighbouring regions
 The region has earmarked 5
hectares of land at Utengule-

32 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 Usongwe Ward in Mbeya District Council for this kind of
investment
 In 2019, the region had 700,669 cattle (73,576 cattle were
marketed), 205,045 goats (60,410 goats were marketed) and
61,393 sheep (13,633 sheep were marketed).
Key
 Mbeya Region has a substantial number of livestock (cattle,
investment
goats, pigs and chicken) in all of its LGAs
rationale
 Apart from domestic consumption of quality meat
products, there is high opportunity to export to SADC and
EAC countries, as well as to other countries in the world.

Available  Committed and high political support at national, regional

support and local government levels
 Fairly good infrastructure (electricity and water supply,
good roads network and communication services) and
markets are available in the region
 NEMC and TBS to support investor to ensure they meet
statutory environmental standards and hygiene
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investor and
act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

3. Leather Processing
Overview of the Opportunity

Key features  Mbeya Region has large

number of livestock in all seven
LGAs, which are slaughtered
every day
 Skins and hides are among
the products that are not
being processed in the region
due to lack of processing capacity, particularly in terms of
technology and capital required
 Each district has slaughter slabs where skins and hides can
be collected
 The region has earmarked 8 hectares of land in Mbeya
District Council at Utengule-Usongwe Ward for industry-
related investments.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 33

 Key  Increasing demand for leather for processing into various
investment products
rationale  Established slaughter slabs where skins and hides can be
collected
 Increased income to livestock keepers due to being able to
sell hides and skins that are currently not used efficiently or
thrown away because of lack of market
 Creation of income and employment along the value chains.
 Committed and high political support at national, regional
and local government levels
 In order to protect local processing of leather, the
Government has been taking various measures, including
creating a conducive environment for utilisation of
locally available raw materials of skins and hides against
importation
Available  Good infrastructure, which includes water and electricity
support supply, good roads network and communication services,
railroad, airport, and markets
 Geographical location allows sourcing additional supply
of leather from neighbouring regions of Katavi, Singida,
Songwe, Iringa and Ruvuma
 NEMC and TBS to support investor to ensure they meet
statutory environmental standards and hygiene
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investor and
act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

4. Milk Processing
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features  Mbeya Region produces over 120,000 litres of milk per day
and only about 30 percent of it has assured market. All LGAs
have surplus milk due to large numbers of traditional and
improved dairy cattle
 Milk processing will provide opportunity for expansion of
milk production due to good weather that support dairy
cattle farming and the readily available assured market
 Rungwe District Council produces about 44,758,989 litres
of milk per year, which is equivalent to between 146,750
and 150,000 litres per day
 Rungwe District Council has earmarked 6.0 hectares of land
at Ilenge Village in Kyimo Ward and 4.0 hectares at Lupoto
Village in Ibighi Ward.

34 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 Key  Will assure producers of market and raise their income
investment  Market for milk and milk products is readily available in the
rationale region and there are also potentials for export in African
countries and beyond
 Milk processing will stimulate milk consumption and,
on the other hand, give better prices for farmers who
will be motivated to increase milk production and create
employment along the milk value chain
 Milk consumption contributes significantly to reduction of
malnutrition
 Dairy farming and crop cultivation complement each other
in terms of nutrient recycling, thus creating a sustainable
crop-livestock interaction farming system.
 The Second Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP – II)
promotes value addition at both primary and secondary
levels
 National livestock policy promotes value addition of dairy
Available products; Tanzania Livestock Master Plan for 2017-2022 also
support supports this industry
 NEMC and TBS to support investor to ensure they meet
statutory environmental standards and hygiene
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investor and
act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

5. Primary and Secondary Processing of Horticulture, Floriculture

and Herbs (spices) Products
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Interested parties are
welcome to invest in
Mbeya Region’s thriving
horticulture, floriculture and
herbs processing industry
in the following aspects:
 Primary value addition
by grading and packaging vegetables, including tomatoes,
onions, green pepper, cucumber, water melons, pineapples,
mangoes, avocados, peaches, apples, cardamom, etc.
 Adding value by drying fruits such as mangoes, pineapples
and bananas
 Primary processing of vegetables, such as tomatoes
 Floriculture: processing and packaging flowers

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 35

  Processing and packaging herbs and spices - peppermint,
cardamom and lemon grass
 In Rungwe District, a piece of land has been earmarked
at Kikota Village in Kiwira Ward for the establishment of
horticulture processing plant, though the size of this piece
of land has not yet been determined.
Key  Mbeya Region has surplus production of horticulture
investment produce in the following LGAs: Rungwe, Busokelo, Mbeya,
rationale Kyela, Chunya and Mbarali District Councils. Floriculture
(production of flowers) in Mbeya and Rungwe; and herbs
in Mbeya, Rungwe, Busokelo, Kyela, Chunya and Mbarali
District Councils
 Value addition at farm gate level reduces post-harvest
losses, increases prices to farmers and provides secondary
processors with quality raw materials and at the same time
provides consumers of unprocessed commodities with
fresh and healthy consumer goods
 Secondary processing will add value, create employment
and income to producers and unemployed youths.
 High political support from national, regional and local
government levels
 Relatively fair supporting infrastructure services in terms
of roads networks, electricity and, water supply, airport,
Available
railroad, telecommunication services, etc.
support
 NEMC and TBS to support investor to ensure they meet
statutory environmental standards and hygiene
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investor and
act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

6. Establishment of an Industrial Park

Overview of the Opportunity
 Regional authorities have
allocated land at Mbeya City for
establishment of an industrial
park
Key features  There are about 28 plots of
varying sizes that have been set
aside for this investment
 The proposed industrial park will have the following
complementary services and features:

36 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 1. Cluster: Assembly, re-packaging, machinery, equipment,
and other industrial goods for value addition. E.g., farm
machinery and implements, warehouses, distribution
centres and factories. equipment, etc.
2. Packaging and supply chain management facilities
3. Automotive zone
4. Agro-processing industries for value addition of
horticulture products, meat processing and packaging,
and grain mills
5. Pharmaceutical industries (drugs and medical
equipment manufacturing).
Key  Industrial parks bring together complementary services
investment and features that will benefit companies that occupy space
rationale therein. Ports provide access for commodities and finished
products to be taken to major industrial hubs for distribution.
Cranes and other heavy lifting equipment available at the
industrial park are used to transfer cargo to trucks and
railroad cars. The cargo can also be stored at warehouses
located within the industrial park. Manufacturers based in
an industrial park that has port access can quickly procure
the materials they need to create their products
 Other reasons for establishing an industrial park are:
 Enhancing dedicated concentration of infrastructure in
an area so as to reduce business expenses related to
infrastructure
 Attracting new businesses through provision of an
integrated infrastructure in a location
 Reducing environmental impacts of industrial wastes.
 Strong support by national and regional authorities
Available
 Strong support from the Integrated Industrial Development
support
Strategy (IIDS) 2025 and FYDP II.

7. Production of Animal Feeds

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbeya District Council
 Building a factory for processing animal feeds for cattle,
goats, pigs, and chicken, largely using locally available raw
materials, is a potential investment opportunity in Mbeya
Region
 The trend is that grazing land is declining due to an increase of
other economic activities (crop cultivation and urbanisation)

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 37

  Availability of crop residues of cereals, legumes and
horticulture produce as raw materials for making animal
feeds
 Increasing requirement of producing animal feeds of high
quality and standards required by consumers
 The district council has earmarked 3.5 hectares of land for
this investment at Utengule and Usongwe wards.
Key  All Mbeya Region local government authorities (LGAs)
investment have surplus grains, horticulture residues and oilseed cakes
rationale whose by-products are ideal for making livestock feeds
 Stakeholders in four LGAs with largest number of livestock
and chicken (Busokelo District Council, Mbeya District
Council, Mbarali District Council and Mbeya City Council)
identified processing of animal feed as a priority
 There are large internal and external markets for animal
feeds, including neighbouring countries of Zambia, Malawi
and Democratic Republic of Congo.
 All necessary supportive infrastructure is available: good
roads, electricity and water supply, railroad, airport, etc.
 Support from Tanzania Animal Feeds Manufacturers
Available Association (TAFMA)
support  NEMC and TBS to support investor to ensure they meet
statutory environmental and quality standards
 Regional/district authorities to support investor and act as a
one-stop investment facilitation centre.

8. Investment in Pharmaceuticals
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features  Interested parties are invited
to Mbeya Region to invest
in making pharmaceutical
products such as various
medicines, intravenous drip
water, etc.
 Preferred location are Mbeya
District Council, where 5 hectares of land have been
allocated for this purpose
 Tanzania imports most of its pharmaceutical products. Data
available shows Tanzania’s pharmaceutical market is forecast
to grow to US$ 730 million (TZS 1.6 trillion) by year 2021
from USD 450 million (TZS 990 billion) in 2017. About 95

38 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 percent of this precious foreign exchange is used to import
pharmaceutical products
 Mbeya Region has abundant natural and man-made
resources needed for the pharmaceutical industry, including
pyrethrum, sugar cane, many types of fruits, limestone and
plant oils such as palm, simsim, etc.
Key  The demand for high quality pharmaceutical products
investment is increasing not only in Mbeya Region but also in other
rationale regions of Tanzania and world-wide due to population
growth
 Availability of raw materials and proven technologies for
making various pharmaceutical products
 The need to reduce spending on imports of pharmaceutical
products so that the saved foreign resources can be used
for other important development investments.
 High political support from national, regional and local
government levels
 Availability of a one-stop centre that will facilitate the
process of establishing a pharmaceutical plant
Available  Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA),
support NEMC, TIC and TBS to support investor to ensure they meet
statutory environmental, quality and hygiene standards
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act
as a one-stop investment facilitation centre at the regional
level.

B. Construction Sector

9. Construction of a Dry Port

Overview of the Opportunity: Dry Port
Key features  Mbeya Region is in close proximity with Malawi, DRC and
Zambia, thus there is an opportunity for establishing a dry
port close to the border
 Over 130 hectares of land have been earmarked at Inyala
area in Mbeya District for constructing a dry port
 The region is connected with all key support infrastructure
including railway (TAZARA), tarmac roads and Mbeya
Airport.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 39

  Mbeya Region is strategically positioned in the southern
corridor of Tanzania
Key  The region has potential for connection with neighbouring
investment countries. There is a huge market across three countries,
rationale namely Zambia, DRC and Malawi
 There is possibility of tapping the export demand through
establishment of a dry port.
 Fiscal policy in place
Available
 Good infrastructure, which includes roads and communication
support
networks, electricity and markets.

3.3 Council Level Priority Investment Opportunities

The following are priority investment opportunities identified by the councils
in the Mbeya Region. Interested parties are invited to invest in commercial
business and trade service centres; modern bus stations and vehicle parking
lots; modern sports stadium and recreation facilities; banana processing;
avocado processing; cocoa processing; sunflower processing; round
potatoes processing; fish farming and fish processing; farm machinery hire
services; manufacturing of various products from rice husks and other wood
products; honey processing; water bottling; cashew nut block farming; paddy
processing and packaging; hospitals, health care centres and dispensaries;
primary/secondary schools and vocational training institutes; production of
dustless chalks, limestone marble products and lamp shades; development
of irrigation farming infrastructure; construction of commercial cold rooms
and refrigeration services; extraction of minerals; stone quarrying; tourism
and hospitality services (skyline tourism, construction of hotels, motels, and
campsites; and establishment of tour guide companies, etc.).

40 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

A. Construction Sector

1. Commercial Business and Trade Service Centres

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Busokelo District Council
 Busokelo is a new district council to which prospective
investors are invited to construct business mall, trade
service centre, finance and insurance centre, agro-
commodity exchange centre, cold chain trucks, fast food or
restaurant facilities, market stalls, retail shops, bus bays, car
parks, hotels, etc.
 Opportunities also exist for constructing low-cost residential
houses, tourist hotels, campsites, cultural and photographic
tourism and sports playing grounds at tourist sites
including crater lakes found at Kyungululu, Kingili, Ilamba,
Ikapu, Itamba and Itende; and many more facilities as may
be agreed with district authorities
 District authorities have earmarked adequate land (about
5.74 hectares) for construction of commercial business,
low-cost residential houses and trade investments at Ntaba,
Kandete, Isange and Lufilyo wards.

Mbeya City Council

 Domestic and foreign interested parties are invited to invest
in commercial real estate enterprises, including modern
business malls, retail and wholesale shops, sports grounds,
star-rated hotels, supply chain services centre, etc.
 Mbeya City Council has earmarked adequate land (about
8 hectares) for real estate development and business
operations purposes at Sistila area in Iyunga Ward and
Iwambi Ward.

Rungwe District Council

 Rungwe District Council has earmarked 0.075 hectare of
land in Tukuyu Town. The allocated land has been surveyed,
a title deed has been issued and feasibility study on
establishing business operation has been conducted.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 41

  To provide shopping services to the growing populations
of the two councils
 To provide good quality star-rated hotel services to an
increasing number of domestic and foreign tourists
Key
 To provide low-cost housing facilities and playing grounds
investment
for local communities
rationale
 Demand for high quality services is increasing as incomes
of residents in this area also increase
 Sports and recreation centres is an important aspect of
human development.
 Shopping malls and well-planned business centres are
supported by the Second Five-Year Development Plan
 Provision of low-cost residential housing is supported
Available
by Government in an effort to improve people’s living
support
standards
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

2. Modern Bus Stations and Vehicle Parking

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbeya District Council
 An investor is welcome to construct a modern bus stand
and a truck parking lot to facilitate passenger transport and
heavy-duty trucks
 Mbeya District Council has earmarked 4 hectares of land
for construction of a bus station and truck parking lot at
Utengule, Usongwe and Inyala wards

Kyela District Council

 Kyela District Council has earmarked 2.4 hectares of land
for construction of bus stand at Ibanda junction to Malawi
border
 The Council is in the process of acquiring this area.

Mbarali District Council

 Mbarali District Council has earmarked land for construction
of a truck parking lot at Igawa, Chimala and Igurusi (about
5 - 6 hectares at each site) in Lugelele Ward.

42 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

  These will improve the level of services provided
 Demand for high quality services is increasing within an
increasing population, hence the demand for an increase in
the level of investment
Key
 The Makambaku-Mbeya road is an important route into
investment
neighbouring countries of Zambia, Malawi and DRC; it is also
rationale
important to other southern African countries. Therefore, the
number of trucks passing through Makambaku into other
countries is very large, so both the bus stand and truck parking
lot need to be built with international standards in mind.
 Political support from national, regional and local levels
Available
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
support
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

3. Modern Sports Stadium and Recreation Facilities

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbeya City Council
 Building a multipurpose regional modern sports stadium
and recreation facilities
 Mbeya City Council has earmarked 6 hectares of land at
Iwambi Ward for this investment

Mbeya, Rungwe, Chunya, Busokelo, Kyela and Mbarali

District Councils
 All LGAs are inviting investors to establish modern sports
stadia and/or recreation facilities
 All district councils have earmarked sufficient land for the
purpose of building sports and recreation facilities
 Recreation centres can be developed at all tourist
attractions found in Rungwe District Council, where there
are no well-established centres in place. Several areas have
been earmarked at Isongole Fishing site, Kaporogwe Water
Falls (Kisondela Ward), Lake Kisiba (Kisiba Ward), Malamba
(Suma Ward) and Isabula Waterfalls Masoko Ward) where
a prospective investor can construct campsites and mini-
hotels. The earmarked pieces of land have not yet been
surveyed but are estimated to be 6.5 hectares
 Mbeya District Council has earmarked at least 3.2 hectares
for construction of recreation facilities at Lwanjiro, Swaya,
Ijombe, Bonde la Songwe and Igale wards.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 43

 Key  Population growth and awareness of the importance of
investment sports have created high demand for modern sports stadia
rationale and recreational facilities
 Household incomes in Mbeya Region have increased,
which implies that people can afford to pay entry fees for
entertainment
 Government is encouraging sports and recreation in
schools and civil societies.
 High political support from national, regional and local
government levels
 The Five-Year Development Plan fosters establishment of
Available
sports and recreational services in order to increase the
support
health and productivity of the country’s human capital
 Regional/district authorities to support investor and act as a
one-stop investment facilitation centre.

4. Construction of commercial cold rooms and refrigeration services

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features  Interested parties are
welcome to invest in
the construction of
commercial cold rooms,
ice block plant and
refrigeration services at
airport and supermarkets
in Mbeya District Council
 Mbeya District Council has allocated a total of 8 hectares of
land for this investment and other related investments
 Land has also been set aside at Mbeya Airport for this type
of investment.
Key  Traders incur high costs due to spoilage and waste of fresh
investment agriculture produce and fish caused by poor transportation
rationale and inadequate cold storage facilities
 Supply of ice will also create a linkage to cold chain
transportation
 At the airport, there is high demand for cold room services
due to the growing markets of fresh perishable produce
such as horticulture crops and increasing production of
fish.

44 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

  Improved supply of reliable electricity in the country
 The investment is supported by FYDP II, which promotes
value addition at primary and secondary levels
Available
 NEMC and TBS to support investors to ensure they meet
support
statutory environmental and hygiene standards
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investor and
act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

B. Industrial Sector

5. Banana Processing
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Busokelo District Council
 All LGAs of Mbeya Region
produce bananas; area under
cultivation is over 19,000
hectares and average annual
production of bananas is
about 541,493 tonnes
 Busokelo District Council expresses desire for an investor to
process bananas grown within the district and those to be
sourced from neighbouring districts of Rungwe and Kyela
 Busokelo District Council has earmarked 1,474 hectares of
land for a processing plant at Lwangwa, Kabula, Lupata,
Itete, Mpata, Lufilyo and Kambasegela wards

Rungwe District Council

 In Rungwe District, area under cultivation is 26,783 hectares
and annual production of banana averages at 286,109 tonnes
 Rungwe District Council has earmarked 4.2 hectares of land
at Ilenge Village (Kyimo Ward) and 3.5 hectares at Ilundo
Village (Kiwira Ward) for this investment.
Key  Banana processing will add value to the fruit and
investment substantially reduce post-harvest losses
rationale  Banana production will increase and the factory will create
employment and other social benefits to many Tanzanians
 Bananas are harvested throughout the year, thus assuring
raw material supply to the industry
 Provides assured market for banana producers
 Processed banana products are easily used in food dietary
modifications and processed foods.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 45

  Government of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Health
(MoA), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Prime Minister’s
Office (PMO), Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), Ministry of
Industry and Trade (MIT), Export Processing Zone Authority
(EPZA), Small Industry Development Organisation (SIDO),
National Environmental Management Council (NEMC),
etc. is addressing various business enabling environment
Available
issues, innovative technologies in value addition and trade
support
facilitation
 Processing to add value and export business is encouraged
in Government’s resolve to become an industrialised country
 NEMC and TBS to support investors to ensure they meet
statutory environmental and quality standards
 High regional/district level political support to investors and
act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

6. Avocado Processing
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Rungwe District Council
 Investors are invited to process avocados grown in Rungwe
District Council and from all other LGAs which produce
various products
 Rungwe and Busokelo have suitable land and weather for
avocado production
 Avocados sold by farmers are not sorted nor graded, which
leads to low prices
 The current avocado production in Rungwe District is
43,782.5 tonnes per year
 Area under avocado cultivation is estimated at 1,508 hectares
 Rungwe District Council has earmarked 6 hectares of land at
Ilenge Village in Kyimo Ward for this investment.
Key  About 60 percent of harvested avocados in Mbeya Region
investment is wasted due to lack of buyers and processing capacity
rationale  Construction of an avocado processing facility will create
both backward and forward linkages along the avocado
value chain: it will create employment, especially for the
youth and women, and provide other social benefits to
Tanzanians
 Avocados can be processed into various food and non-food
products such as juices, butter, cosmetics, soap, medicinal
products, and several other products.

46 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

  High regional and district level political support to investors
in the region
 Government of Tanzania, through MoA, TRA, PMO, TBS, MIT,
EPZA, SIDO, NEMC, etc., is addressing various
business enabling environment issues, innovative
Available technologies in value addition and trade facilitation
support  Processing to add value and to stimulate export business
is encouraged in Government’s resolve to becoming an
industrialised country
 NEMC and TBS to support investors to ensure they meet
statutory environmental and quality standards
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

7. Cocoa processing
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Kyela District Council
 Investors are welcome to construct a cocoa processing
factory in Kyela District Council to create backward and
forward linkages in the cocoa value chain
 Other LGAs that produce cocoa include Busokelo and
Rungwe, who will benefit from this investment by supplying
cocoa to the factory
 Cocoa acreage production per year is about 8,197.5 tonnes
and area under production is being expanded
 Kyela District Council has earmarked 6.2 hectares of land
for this investment at Njisi, Nkokwa, Itope, Ipinda, Busale,
Ikimba, Ikolo, Katumba Songwe, Ngonga, Bujonde,
Kajunjumele, Mwaya, Ipinda, Muungano, Lusungo, Ndobo,
Makwale, Matema and Ngana.
Key  Cocoa produced in the three districts is sold raw, therefore
investment value addition will create employment and increase farm
rationale gate prices as well as incomes
 Cocoa processing can produce various products such as
chocolate, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, cocoa
lotion, etc., all of which have a ready market not only in
Tanzania but also in EAC and SADC countries and the rest of
the world
 Most of Tanzania’s cocoa bi-products are imported from abroad
 Construction of a cocoa processing facility will create
forward and backward linkages along the value chains.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 47

  High regional and district level political support to investors
in the region
 Government of Tanzania (through MoA, TRA, PMO, TBS,
MIT, EPZA, SIDO, NEMC, etc.) is addressing various business
enabling environment issues, innovative technologies in
value addition and trade facilitation
Available
 Value-addition processing and export business are
support
encouraged by the Government’s resolve to making
Tanzania an industrialised country
 NEMC and TBS to support investor to ensure they meet
statutory environmental and quality standards
 Regional/district authorities to support investor and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

8. Sunflower Processing
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Chunya District Council
 An Investor is invited to establish a sunflower processing
facility to add value to the crop and thus increase
marketability of sunflower. When processed, sunflower has
many products including sunflower edible oil, sunflower
cream, and sunflower seed bread
 Chunya District Council has suitable land and weather for
growing sunflower. Extra supply needed for processing can
be sourced from other districts of Mbeya Region, especially
Mbarali District. Processing will stimulate expansion of
acreage and thus increase productivity as well as production
 Sunflower produced in Mbeya Region is locally processed
into sunflower edible oil, but the quality is low and other
very useful products for domestic and external markets are
not produced
 Chunya District Council has allocated a total 15 hectares of
land at Itewe and Makongolosi wards for this investment.
Key  Sunflower processing will create backward and forward
investment linkages along the value chain, employment and income,
rationale especially for youth and women
 It will also stimulate expansion of acreage, motivate
producers to increase productivity and hence resulting in
higher levels of production
 High demand for cholesterol-free edible oil in Mbeya
Region as well as in the whole of Tanzania, in EAC and SADC
countries and the rest of the world.

48 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

  High regional and district level political support to investors
in the region
 Government of Tanzania (through MoA, TRA, PMO, TBS,
MIT, EPZA, SIDO, NEMC, etc.) is addressing various business
enabling environment issues, innovative technologies in
value addition and trade facilitation
Available
 Value-addition processing and export business are
support
encouraged by Government’s resolve to making Tanzania
an industrialised country
 NEMC and TBS to support investors to ensure they meet
statutory environmental and quality standards
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investors
and act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

9. Round Potatoes Processing Industry

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Investors are welcome to
undertake processing of round
potatoes widely grown in
Busokelo, Rungwe and Mbeya
districts.

Mbeya District Council

 Mbeya District Council has
earmarked 11,291 hectares of
land for growing round potatoes at Ihango, Itewe, Ijombe,
Tembela, Ilungu, Igoma, Mapinduzi, Maendeleo and Ulenje
wards
 At least 45 percent of the potatoes grown in Mbeya Region
are spoiled due to lack of processing capacity.

Kyela District Council

 The council has earmarked 5,113.5 hectares of land for
production and processing of Irish potatoes.

Rungwe District Council

 Rungwe District Council has produced an average of
505,103.3 tonnes of round potatoes for the previous five
years (2014/15 – 2018/19) and has earmarked 3.15 hectares
of land at Isongole Ward for constructing a market place
and a processing facility.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 49

 Busokelo District Council
 Busokelo District Council has earmarked about 6 hectares
of land for this investment at Mpombo, Kandete, Luteba,
Isange, Kabula and Lwangwa wards to ensure regular
availability of round potatoes for processing.
Key  Mbeya Region has surplus production of round potatoes
investment  There is already significant investment by Government in
rationale deploying high yielding varieties of root and tuber crops
 Processing will add value and shelf life, which are essential
for food security
 Availability market for processed potatoes in the region, the
rest of Tanzania as well as in EAC and SADC countries.
 High regional and district level political support to investors
in the region
 Value-addition processing and export business are
encouraged by Government’s resolve to making Tanzania
Available
an industrialised country
support
 NEMC and TBS to support investors to ensure they meet
statutory environmental and quality standards
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

10. Manufacturing of Various Products from Rice Husks and Other

Wood Products
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbarali District Council
 Mbeya Region has high demand for charcoal briquettes,
ceiling boards, pellets, rice bran wax, animal feeds and
other products that can be made from rice husks and wood
by-products
 Paddy production in Mbarali District was 250,165 tonnes in
2018/19, of which about 27 percent or 67,545 tonnes was
rice husks
 Only a small portion (less than 10%) of rice husks is used
locally by farmers to burn clay bricks; the remaining large
portion is thrown away or burnt
 There is an increasing interest in finding proper technology
that can make use of rice husks and other wood by-products
such as sawdust
 Mbarali District Council has earmarked 7 hectares of land at
Igurusi, Chimala, Ubaruku, Madibira and Rujewa wards for
this investment.

50 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 Key
 This investment will increase farmers’ income through
investment
selling of rice husks and bran and will reduce use of
rationale
firewood and thus contribute to reduction of deforestation
and more sustainable environment
 It will also benefit Mbarali District and other districts that
will take advantage of the market opportunity to supply
inputs to the industry.

 Diversification of income sources to farmers as stipulated in

ASDP II
 NEMC to support investors to ensure they meet statutory
environmental and quality standards
 Local government authorities and Central Government
Available of Tanzania, through Ministry of Natural Resources and
support Tourism, Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) and Tanzania
Bureau of Standards (TBS) are addressing various business
enabling environment issues, innovative technologies in
value addition and trade facilitation
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

11. Production of Dustless Chalks, Limestone Marble Products and

Lamp Shades
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbeya District Council
 Interested parties are
welcome to Mbeya
Region to invest in
medium and large-scale
production of dustless
chalks, limestone
marble products, lamb
shades and any other
limestone products
 Preferred location for this investment is Mbeya District
Council, where 50 hectares of land have been allocated for
this purpose
 Mbeya Region has abundant good quality limestone
 The region and the country import a large amount of
limestone products due to the few limestone-based
manufacturing facilities that cannot meet demand.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 51

 Key  Dustless chalks, limestone marble products and other
investment limestone products demand continues to increase in
rationale Tanzania and worldwide due to an increase in the number
of primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities,
furniture makers, construction and other industries
 Availability of proven technologies for making a large
assortment of limestone-based products, which are in high
demand world-wide.
 High political support from national, regional and local
government levels
 Education and Vocational Training Policy of 1995 and
Available Education for All Review Report – Tanzania Mainland (2014)
support  NEMC and TBS to support investors to ensure they meet
statutory environmental and hygiene standards
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investors
and act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

12. Honey Processing

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Chunya District Council
 Interested parties are
invited to invest in honey
processing
 Chunya District Council
is well endowed
with natural forest
resources that are
ideal for beekeeping activities carried out by small-scale
entrepreneurs
 Chunya District Council has 29,000 beehives, out of which
97 percent are traditional and only 3 percent are modern
beehives
 Honey production in Chunya District Council ranges
between 110 tonnes to 190 tonnes per year
 Majority of traditional beekeepers are still selling their honey
as raw material at low prices, sometimes five times less than
market prices
 Chunya District Council has earmarked 10 hectares of
land at Mtanila Ward for establishing a honey processing
facility.

52 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 Key  Honey consumption in the country is increasing
investment  Honey processing will link beekeepers to service providers
rationale and market information
 Beekeepers will be organised into marketing groups to
facilitate collection of honey, as well as improve their skills
and knowledge
 Also, having one point of honey processing will enhance
quality control and gender equity, as well as enhance
environmental conservation as a cross-cutting issue
 Assurance of high quality of honey and bee wax will
improve competitiveness in the export market.
 The investment is relevant and will be supported by the
national development and environmental sustainability
policies and strategies, including the National Beekeeping
Policy (1998), National Forest Policy (1998), the Beekeeping
Act (2002), the Forest Act (2002).and the National
Environmental Policy (1997)
 NEMC to support investors to ensure they meet statutory
Available
and environmental obligations
support
 Local government authorities and Central Government
of Tanzania, through regulatory institutions/organisation
such as Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, MIT,
TBS, Tanzania Forest Research Institute (TAFORI) and bee
keepers’ associations to provide support to investors
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investors
and act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

13. Water Bottling

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Rungwe District Council
 Investors are invited to establish a water-bottling plant
 Sources of water from natural springs are available
 Rungwe District Council has set aside 15 hectares of land at
Kyimo and Iponjola for this investment.
Key
 Water bottling ensures bacteriological quality of drinking
investment
water.
rationale

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 53

  National Water Policy, 2002
 District authorities have shown commitment to provide
Available
conducive environment for investment, including allocation
support
of land needed for construction of a water-bottling plant
 Policy and political will at national, regional and local levels.

14. Paddy Processing (sorting, grading, packaging and branding)

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbarali District Council
 Building a paddy-processing plant that will process paddy
into rice then sort, grade, package and brand it
 Mbarali District Council has set aside 438 hectares of land
at Ipyana, Rujewa, Lugelele, Ubaruku, Madibira, Chimala,
Igurusi and Mapogoro for various investments, including
paddy processing.
Key  Mbarali has potential for water to increase paddy production
investment  Rice is the second most important food and cash crop in
rationale Tanzania.
 Manufacturing is aligned with Government’s Second
Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP – II) that promotes
industrialisation
 It is supported by the National Agriculture Policy;
Support Agriculture Sector Development Strategy and Programme
available 2017-2022 (ASDP II) and Tanzania Agriculture and Food
Security Investment Plan, among others
 Seventy-five percentage import duty relief on project
deemed capital goods, including equipment, utility vehicles
and some building materials through TIC.

54 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

C. Fisheries

15. Fish Farming and Fish Processing

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Busokelo District Council
 Busokelo District
Council is rich in crater
lakes that can be used
profitably by investors
to undertake fish cage
farming
 The crater lakes include Kyungululu, Kingili, Ilamba, Ikapu,
Itamba and Itende
 Potential investment includes fish cage farming in the lakes,
developing fish ponds and facilitating contract farming to
obtain adequate fish supply for processing
 Investors can also carry out fish farming in Lufilyo and
Mbaka rivers and in many natural dams existing in Busokelo
District and underground water.
Key  Aquaculture plays a vital role as an alternative source of
investment income for communities, as it is considered an important
rationale sector for supporting rural economic development
 Aquaculture will increase fish supply to fish processing
plants along with increasing income and employment in
the region
 Tanzania would earn more foreign exchange from exports
of processed fish.
 National Fish Policy, 2015: Government has strongly
supported investment in aquaculture training, with degree
programmes at Sokoine University of Agriculture and
the University of Dar es Salaam, as well as skills training
at Mbegani Fisheries Development Centre and Fisheries
Education and Training Agency (FETA)
Available
 Tanzania will be one of the beneficiaries of the project:
support
“Promoting Aquaculture in the East African Community”,
launched in 2017
 Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI) support
 Some institutions, such as Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT)
through ESRF training initiatives, have already begun to
promote fish farming at household level

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 55

  NEMC and TBS to support investors to ensure they meet
statutory environmental, quality and hygiene standards
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

D. Agriculture Sector

16. Investment in Farm Machinery Hire Services

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbarali District Council
 An investor is invited
to establish a farm
machinery hiring centre
to provide services to
more than 80 irrigation
schemes in Mbarali
District and other districts
of Mbeya Region
 Farm operation in Mbarali District is partially mechanised
and there are inadequate farm machinery hire services,
which leads to low productivity of crops cultivated in this
district
 As of May 2020, the number of available farm machinery in
use include 410 tractors, 2,506 power tillers, 847 ox-ploughs,
68 combine harvesters, and 28 rice trans-planters
 Farm machinery shortage makes farmers fail to properly
time farm operations. As such, field beds are not properly
prepared, farmers fail to follow good agriculture practices
(GAPs) and post-harvesting practices, and irrigation farrows
are not repaired as required
 Mbarali District has unutilised land of about 87,734.4
hectares suitable for irrigation.
Key  This investment opportunity will
investment reduce labour burden, particularly
rationale for women and youth. In turn, it
will attract the youth to engage in
agricultural enterprises along the
commodity value chains
 It will increase crop and livestock productivity and
production that will in turn improve food security and

56 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 supply to markets
 This investment will also reduce costs of production and
increase profits to farmers
 Quality of farmers’ produce will increase, thus enhancing
competitiveness in national and international markets.
 ASDP II promotes mechanisation of agriculture and it is in
line with the Second Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP-
Available II), which focuses also on addressing the elements of
support agriculture transformation, including the adoption and use
of improved technologies
 Regional/district authorities to support investor and act as a
one-stop investment facilitation centre.

17. Development of irrigation farming infrastructure

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Kyela District Council
 Interested parties are invited to invest in building irrigation
infrastructure at Kyela District Council for paddy and
horticulture crops production
 There are several unfinished irrigation schemes for paddy
farming whereby private investors may invest through PPP
and PPCP and/or enter contract farming arrangements
 Kyela District Council has a total land area of 1,289 hectares
allocated for irrigation farming. About 320 hectares are at
Kingilikanga, 200 hectares at Mabunga, 209 hectares at
Ngana and 560 hectares at Makwale
 About 1,320 hectares at Tenende are also planned for
irrigation farming.
Key  Rice consumers are willing to pay an additional premium
investment price for rice produced in Kyela District because of their
rationale inherent preference for its unique flavour, aroma and
freshness
 Cross-border rice trade is increasing and becoming
profitable to rice farmers
 Irrigation farming can improve farmers’ incomes and food
security through increased productivity and diversification
of enterprises cultivation
 Unreliable rainfall patterns due to climate change limit
agriculture production of various commodities in Kyela
District in Mbeya Region and in the country as a whole.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 57

  Revised National Irrigation Master Plan of 2017, which seeks
to expand land under irrigation agriculture and improve
agriculture productivity and profitability
 District Irrigation Development Fund (DIDF) and a National
Available Irrigation Development Fund (NIDF) through which
support irrigation financing of needed services is made
 Good infrastructure, including roads, communication
networks, electricity supply and markets for agriculture
produce
 TIC and regional/district authorities to support investor and
act as a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

18. Cashew nut Block Farming

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Chunya District Council
 Interested parties are invited to invest in block cashew nut
farming at Lualaje Village
 About 8,000 hectares of land have been allocated for this
investment.
 The land is suitable for cashewnut production
Key
 Benefits to the district include not only creation of jobs
investment
but also a market for small producers engaged in cashew
rationale
processing.
 FYDP II
Available
 Cashewnut Industry Strategy (2013/14 to 2023/24)
support
 ASDP II (2017/2018 – 2027/2028).

E. Natural Resources Sector

19. Minerals Including Stone Quarrying

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbeya Region invites small,
medium and large investors into
Tanzania’s largely unexploited
mineral paradise. Investments
related to mining include catering,
mining equipment supply and
maintenance, provision of medical
services and transport services
(e.g. air charter services).

58 | MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE

 Chunya District Council
 There is opportunity for small, medium and large-scale
mining of gold, coal, iron, quartz and rhodolite
 There are also opportunities for adding value through
polishing and manufacturing of various mineral products.

Rungwe District
 Investments related to mining operations for coal, carbon
dioxide (CO2), mineral water, marble and pumice
 Polishing and manufacturing of various mineral products.

Busokelo District Council

 Granite/travertine mining
 Adding value through manufacturing of various products,
such as tiles
 There is also an opportunity to expand gas extraction.

Mbarali District Council

 Small, medium and large-scale gold mining
 Small, medium and large-scale mining operations for
marble, lime, granite, calcite, opal, magnetite, phosphate,
gypsum and ferrous
 Polishing and manufacturing various mineral products.

Mbeya District Council

 There is potential for quarrying
 There are potentials for mining and adding value to
amethyst, aquamarine, calcite, carbonatites, green garnet,
gypsum, niobium, uranium, opal, pumice, phosphate, soap
stone, and limestone.

Kyela District Council

 Investments related to mining operations for coal, amethyst,
and gold
 This will involve polishing and manufacturing various
mineral products.
Key
investment
 Most of these identified minerals are not yet extracted, and
rationale
are therefore easily accessible to prospective investors

 Location and specific sites within the LGAs are known.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 59

 Available  High political support from national, regional and local
support government levels
 Relatively fair supporting infrastructure services in terms of
road networks, electricity and water supply, airport, railroad,
telecommunication services, etc.
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

F. Tourism Sector

20. Tourism and Hospitality Industry (Skyline tourism, Hotels, Motels,

Campsites, Tour Guide Companies, etc.)
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Mbeya City Council
 Interested parties may
invest in hotels and
restaurants, holiday
resorts, permanent tented
camps, lodges and guest
houses
 Mbeya City Council has
earmarked a total area of 9 hectares at Iwambi (5 hectares)
Ngosi Crater and Iziwa (4 hectares) for this investment opportunity
Natural Lake  Tour operators to improve tour services, travel and tour
management, car hire services, hunting safaris and tour
guide services
 There is an opportunity for investing in conference tourism
 Expedition support services: Mbeya Region lies on the
Johannesburg-Cairo Expedition Route.

Mbeya District Council

 Building hotels and campsites
 Providing tour safari services: Mbeya District is the transit
point to Kitulo National Park and Katavi National Park in
Rukwa Region
 Investment in cultural tourism.

Mbarali District Council

 Hunting and photographic safaris at Ruaha National Park
and Mpanga Kipengele Game Reserve
 Investment in cultural tourism and agri-tour.

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 Kyela District Council
 Investing in boat safaris on Lake Nyasa and beach festival
 Water sporting service, e.g. snorkelling, canoeing, kayaking,
diving and watching ornamental fish (Lake Nyasa)
 Constructing tourist hotels and camp sites at the shores of
Lake Nyasa, e.g. on Matema and Ngonga beaches
 Sport fishing on lakes Nyasa and Kiwira, as well as on
Songwe, Lufilyo and Mbaka rivers.

Busokelo District Council

 Mountain climbing, skiing and hiking safaris (Mbeya Range,
Mount Rungwe and Livingstone Mountains
 Bird and primate watching safaris.

Rungwe District Council

 Investing in constructing permanent and temporary
campsites, homestays, restaurants, cultural centres and
hotels
 Unique tourist attractions include:
 Ngosi Crater Lake located on top of Uporoto range of
Mountain in Rungwe rainforests
 Mountain climbing, skiing or flyovers and hiking safaris
on Rungwe Mountain (2,981m above sea level)
 There is Kisiba Crater Lake, Kapologwe Falls natural
bridge (God’s Bridge) formed on Kiwira River
 Protected variety of game stock and wild animals such
as rare monkey species known as Rugwecebus-Kipunji
 The giant mvule tree – world’s largest tree
 Geo-tourism, community and eco-based tourism
(Ngosi and Masoko crater lakes, Kaporogwe Waterfalls)
and agri-tour.
Key  Investments in hotels, development of camp sites and
investment other tourist infrastructure will boost tourism in Mbeya
rationale Region and the Southern Tourist Circuit of Tanzania
 Uniquely admired tourist attractions that are not yet tapped
and known to the world in their natural state
 Unparalleled warm and welcoming people living peacefully
together and ready to make any tourist feel at home
 High political support from national, regional and local
government levels

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 61

  Relatively fair supporting infrastructure services in terms of
road networks, electricity and water supply, airport, railroad,
Available telecommunication services, etc. to enable tourists reach
support these unique attractions
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

G. Services Sector

21. Investments in Hospitals, Health Care Centres and Dispensaries

Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Although Mbeya Region is well-served with health care facilities,
increasing population and business interaction create need to
increase the number of facilities.

Mbeya City Council

 Investing in modern hospital to serve the people of Mbeya,
other Tanzanians and neighbouring countries of Zambia,
Malawi and DRC
 Mbeya City Council has earmarked 15.5 hectares of land at
Iziwa and Iyunga wards for investment related to provision
of social services.

Chunya, Busokelo, Mbeya, Mbarali, Rungwe and Kyela

District Councils
 Modern well-equipped hospitals, health care centres and
dispensaries
 All districts have earmarked enough land for investments
related to provision of social services.
 Improved purchasing power of the people has raised
Key
demand for high quality health care services
investment
 Improvement in health care services will increase
rationale
productivity of the human capital.
 The Second Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP-II) fosters
provision of health care services in order to increase
productivity of human capital
Available
 Increased awareness of people on the importance of high-
support
quality health care services
 Regional/district authorities to support investors and act as
a one-stop investment facilitation centre.

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22. Investments in Primary/Secondary Schools and Vocational
Training Institutes
Overview of the Opportunity
Key features Although Mbeya Region is well-
served with education services,
growing population and business
interaction create need to increase
the number of facilities

Mbeya City Council

 Investment in modern schools to serve the people of
Mbeya, other Tanzanians and neighbouring countries of
Zambia, Malawian DRC
 Vocational training institutes to serve Mbeya Region and
neighbouring Songwe, Ruvuma, Iringa, Rukwa, Katavi and
Njombe regions
 Mbeya City Council has earmarked 15.5 hectares of land at
Iziwa and Iyunga wards for investment related to provision
of social services.

Chunya, Busokelo, Mbeya, Mbarali, Rungwe and Kyela

District Councils
 Education services, including pre-primary, primary,
secondary schools and vocational training institutes to
provide useful education and self-employment skills
 All districts have earmarked enough land for investments
related to provision of social services.
 Improved purchasing power of the people has raised
demand for high quality education services
Key
 Improvement in health care and education services will
investment
increase productivity of the human capital
rationale
 High quality education services will raise productivity of the
human capital and increase incomes.
 The Second Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP-II) fosters
provision of public and private education and health care
services in order to increase productivity of the human
Available capital
support  Increased awareness of people on the importance of high-
quality education services to their children
 Regional/district authorities to support investor and act as a
one-stop investment facilitation centre.

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 PA R T F O U R

FACILITATION, PROCESSES,
REQUIREMENTS AND INCENTIVES

This part gives details of key issues that are related to facilitation, processes,
requirements, and incentives for investment to take place in Tanzania in
general and in Mbeya Region in particular.

4.1 Supportive Policies and Legal Environment

Key investment policies, laws, strategies, programmes and plans that are
promoting investment in Mbeya Region are presented below.

4.1.1 Policies, Legal, Institutional and Regulatory Considerations

a) Key policies

Policies to guide investment promotion and interventions in Mbeya Region’s

relevant areas are: National Investment Promotion Policy (1996); National
Agriculture Policy (2013), which is under review; National Livestock Policy
(2006); Sustainable Industrial Development Policy (SIDP) (1996-2020); National
Trade Policy for Competitive Economy and Export-led Growth (2003); National
Micro-finance Policy (2000); National Forest Policy (1998); Bee Keeping Policy
(1998); Small and Medium Enterprises Development Policy (2003); National
Land Policy (1995); National Environmental Policy (1997); The Mineral Policy
of Tanzania (2009); Tanzania Mining Industry Investor’s Guide (2015); and
Mbeya Region Authority Development Plans as well as the political will of the
region to attract and support investors.

b) Key laws

Major laws and regulations that guide investment promotion and activities
in Mbeya Region are: Tanzania Investment Act (1997); Tax Legislations; Land
Act (1999); Village Land Act (1999); Mining Act (1998); Tanzania Bureau of
Standards Act (2009); Tanzania Food and Drugs Act (2003) and Regulations;

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Plant Protection Act (1997) and Regulations; The Mining Act (2010); The
Mining Regulations (2012); the National Environment Management Act
(No.10 of 2004); the Environmental Management (Environmental Impact
Assessment and Audit) (Amendment) Regulations of 2018; and other sector
Acts and relevant by-laws in Mbeya Region.

4.1.2 Strategies, Plans, and Programmes

Key strategies, plans and programmes include: Annual Regional Plans and
Annual Reports; PO-RALG Reports; district development plans; National
Five-Year Development Plan 2016/17 – 2020/21 (FYDP II); Agriculture Sector
Development Strategy and Programme 2017-2022 (ASDP II); Livestock Sector
Development Programme (2011); Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s
Reports; and Integrated Industrial Development Strategy 2025 (IIDS 2025)
produced in 2010. Others are the National Rice Development Strategy;
Tanzania Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plan; and Agricultural
Growth Corridor in Tanzania.

The above policies, regulatory frameworks, strategies and plans are sound
frameworks that directly guide and support investment climate in Mbeya
Region and offer an appropriate environment that encourages investments
in the region. The key issue is for the regional leadership to make sure that
the processes and requirements outlined below are interpreted and adapted
earnestly at regional and local levels.

The region’s administration has committed itself to facilitating and making

sure that all relevant support and facilitation towards investment are provided
in a timely manner to investors within a minimum time possible. The regional
administration is also ready to work closely with investors towards realisation
of their investment through the rule of law and compliance to various
regulations.

4.1.3 Investment Options: Individual, PPP, PPCP, and Joint venture

Investment options available in Tanzania include individual private sector

investments, public-private partnership (PPP), public-private community
partnership (PPCP) and joint venture (JV).

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 65

a) Public-Private Partnerships

The Government recognises the role of the private sector in bringing about
socio-economic development through investments. The PPP framework
provides an important instrument for attracting investments. Indeed, PPP
has been identified as a viable means to effectively address constraints of
financing, management and maintenance of public goods and services.

The public sector, through public-private partnerships, is encouraged to

maximise synergies between the public and private sectors in mobilising
and deploying resources. The PPP approach has been widely used in other
countries to finance infrastructure and other long-term investment projects.
PPP is a way to amalgamate public and private capital and expertise for public
projects in which the private sector has interest in sharing ownership. The
PPP Act (2010) and PPP Regulations (2011) give areas of collaboration, which
comprise investment capital, managerial skills and technology. Additionally,
PPPs can enable the Government to fulfil its responsibilities in delivering
socio-economic goods and services by ensuring efficiency, effectiveness,
accountability, and quality service outreach.

The concept of PPP entails an arrangement between public and private

sector entities whereby the private entity renovates, constructs, operates,
maintains, and/or manages a facility in whole or in part, in accordance with
specified output specifications. The private entity assumes the associated risks
for a significant period of time and, in return, receives benefits and financial
remuneration according to agreed terms. PPPs constitute a cooperative
venture built on the synergy of expertise of each partner that best meets
clearly defined public needs through the most appropriate allocation of
resources, risks and rewards.

Most PPPs implemented in Tanzania are concession arrangements for

running existing enterprises with limited provisions for rehabilitation and new
investments. It is worth noting that in the case of services, PPPs have been
implemented successfully by faith-based organisations (FBOs) in education,
health and water sectors for many years. Private sector participation in areas
previously treated as the monopoly of the public sector has made major
contributions to increasing the pace of growth and development in many
countries.

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b) Public-Private Community Partnerships

This is a variant of PPP in that it includes communities/villages where the

nature of a project requires that community resources (such as land) become
part of a project in which both the public (particularly local government
authorities) and private sectors are interested to invest.

c) Joint Ventures

The Tanzanian Government encourages joint ventures between local firms

and foreign investors; this also facilitates access to land, which foreigners
cannot own but can operate on under special arrangements available at
TIC. Many foreign firms have recently partnered in various ventures with
the National Development Corporation (energy), Tanzania Petroleum
Development Corporation (bio-fuels), and the National Housing Corporation
(real estate).

4.2 Facilitation
Mbeya Region and Central Government have set and are improving
favourable conditions to attract and facilitate investment in the region and
ensure speedy decision making. The region has the obligation to interpret
and adapt these processes, requirements and incentives for investment so as
to fit the region’s investment profile and priorities. The main processes that
need to be undertaken by prospective investors in Mbeya Region are listed
below. These processes and requirements are subject to changes towards
improvements from time to time.

4.2.1 Lead Institution

Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) is a one-stop agency of the Government

of Tanzania established under the Tanzania Investment Act No. 26 of 1997 to
promote, co-ordinate and facilitate investment into Tanzania. The Centre is a
focal point for all investors and performs all liaison work for the investor from
inquiries right up to project start up. TIC deals with all enterprises with capital
investment of not less than US$ 500,000 foreign owned and US$ 100,000
if locally owned. It assists all investors to obtain permits, authorisation etc.,
required by other laws to set up and operate investment in Tanzania.

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 67

TIC contacts are: Executive Director, Tanzania Investment Centre, Plot no;
9A&B, Shaaban Robert Street, P.O Box No 938, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Tel:
255 22 2113365/116328-32 Fax: 255 22 2118253, Email: information@tic.co.tz

There is a functioning regional-level Investment Facilitation Committee

and a Special Investment Facilitation Desk. These institutional investment
arrangements are cascaded to district level.

4.2.2 Main Institutions Dealing with Investment in Tanzania and Mbeya

Region

The main institutions dealing with investment issues in Mbeya Region

and Tanzania at large include the Tanzania Investment Centre; Business
Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA); Tanzania Revenue Authority
(TRA); Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO); Tanzania Bureau
of Standards (TBS); Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT); Prime Minister’s
Office (Investment); water supply companies in respective regions; local
government authorities in respective districts (on land issues); Ministry of
Water and Irrigation (MWI); Ministry of Agriculture (MoA); and Ministry of
Livestock and Fisheries (MLF).

4.2.3 Registration

Registration of an investment can be done at a local BRELA office and at

TIC district, regional or national level offices, and requires the following
documentation: (i) Memorandum and Articles of Association; (ii) Certificate
of Registration or Certificate of Incorporation; (iii) Investment Feasibility
Study; (iv) Certificate of Incentives in the case of projects approved by TIC;
(v) Partnership Agreement (deed) in the case of a partnership; (vi) Lease
Agreement; (vii) Business Enquiry Forms; (vii) IT 21 forms for companies and
IT 20 forms for individuals; and (viii) Company and Operators’ Certification of
Registration for Tax Payer Identification Number (TIN).

4.2.4 Taxes

Taxes involved in investment projects in Mbeya Region are various and

include:

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a) Corporate tax

Corporate tax is charged at the rate of thirty percent (30%) for residents and
non-residents alike. In case of corporate newly listed to the Dar es Salaam Stock
Exchange, with at least thirty percent (30%) of its equity ownership issued to
the public for three consecutive years from the date of listing, corporate tax
is twenty-five percent (25%) for both residents and non-residents. Further,
business entities with perpetual unrelieved losses for three consecutive years
(excluding entities conducting agricultural business, provision of health care
or education services), corporate tax is 0.3 percent of annual turnover for
resident corporate bodies.

Other incentives under corporate tax include a reduced rate from the normal
thirty percent (30%) to twenty percent (20%) for a new entity dealing in
manufacturing of pharmaceutical and leather products, and ten percent
(10%) rate for corporations investing in a plant for assembling motor vehicles,
tractors and fishing auto boats.

b) Personal income tax

Residents are subjected to personal income tax where total income exceeds
Tsh. 2,040,000/- per annum. Income of a non-resident employee of a resident
employer is subject to withholding tax of fifteen percent (15%). The total
income of a non-resident individual is chargeable at the rate of twenty percent
(20%) [the monthly income includes basic salary, overtime, bonus commission
and other allowances]. The skills and development levy (SDL) is payable by
any employer who employs four or more persons; the rate is 4.5 percent of
the gross wage. Employers exempted from paying SDL include diplomatic
missions, registered educational institutions, charitable organisations, farm
employment, and foreign institutions dealing with technical assistance and
the United Nations Organisation and its agencies/affiliates.

c) Withholding tax

Withholding tax on dividends from corporations listed with Dar es Salaam

Stock Exchange is five percent (5%) for both resident and non-resident
persons. Dividends from other corporations are taxed at the rate of ten
percent (10%). The rate of tax withheld on interest is ten percent (10%) and

MBEYA REGION INVESTMENT GUIDE | 69

on royalties it is fifteen percent (15%) for resident and non-resident persons.
Rates for tax withheld on management and technical services fees [mining,
oil and gas] are five percent (5%) for residents and fifteen percent (15%) for
non-residents).

d) Value-added tax (VAT)

VAT is a consumption tax charged at a single rate of eighteen percent (18%).

Registration is compulsory for any business that has a turnover of more than
TZS 100 million per annum. However, there is an exception to registration
of those entities dealing with professional services, as they are required to
register for value-added tax regardless of their turnover. Applicants for VAT
registration should complete form Number VAT ITX245.02.E. A registered
taxpayer is required to file a VAT return monthly.

VAT incentives include zero percent rate (0%) for all exports, exemption of
imported machinery by local manufacturers and processors of vegetable oils,
textiles, pharmaceuticals, and skins and leather products manufactured in
Tanzania Mainland.

VAT returns are supposed to be filed on the 20th day of the month after a
tax period. However, where the 20th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public
holiday the returns shall be lodged on the first working day following the
Saturday, Sunday or holiday. For imports, VAT is payable at the time the import
duty is due and payable in accordance with the East African Community
Customs Management Act, 2004.

Exports are zero rated under the VAT Act, 2014, which also provides for VAT
exemption. Exemption on supplies and imports are provided in the schedule
to the VAT Act, Cap 148 r/w Finance Act 2017.

4.3 Incentives
Investors registered under the Tanzania Investment Centre pursuant to
Tanzania Investment Act (TIC, 1997) are accorded tax incentives as per
Income Tax Act, 2004, Value Added Tax Act 2014 and any other applicable tax
law. EPZA also provides incentive packages according to Export Processing
Zones Act No. 11 of 2012.

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Import duty and VAT exemption on deemed capital goods: import duty
exemption is granted to the tune of seventy-five percent (75%) of the import
duty payable on the approved deemed capital goods (investor shall pay 25%
of import duty due). Deemed capital goods that are eligible for exemption
are specified depending on the project sector.

Investments in Tanzania are guaranteed against nationalisation and

expropriation. Tanzania is a member of both the International Centre for
Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSD) and Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

Please Note: Information on Taxes and Investment incentives explained

above are subject to periodic reviews as the government keeps on improving
conditions for businesses in the country. Please contact Tanzania Revenue
Authority (www.tra.go.tz) and Tanzania Investment Centre (www.tic.
go.tz) for current updates.

4.4 Access to Resources

4.4.1 Land for Investment in Tanzania

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlement is mandated with

land management in Tanzania. Land in Tanzania is under three Categories,
namely village land, general land and reserve land.

According to the Land Act, the whole land of the United Republic of Tanzania
is owned by the public, and the President as a Trustee. This means that land
in Tanzania is vested to the public, and citizens own land under leasehold
tenure.

Section 20 of the Land Act No. 4 of 1999 specifically prohibits allocation/grant

of land to non-citizens unless the land is for investment purpose under the
Tanzania Investment Act, 1997.

Land for investment purpose shall be identified, gazetted and allocated

to Tanzania Investment Centre. More information on acquisition of land for
investment is available on www.ardhi.go.tz

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4.4.2 Land for Investment in Mbeya Region

In realising the need for investment, Mbeya Region has taken initiatives to
earmark land for investment in every district. The region has further resolve
to facilitate land availability when needed to suit special requirements of
investors. The region has also earmarked a total of 3,500 hectares for industrial
park establishment.

4.4.3 Banking and Financial Services

The banking sector in Tanzania has been booming, growing in assets and in
profits. Because of this, new merchant banks, commercial banks, bureaux de
change, insurance companies, a stock exchange and related financial entities
have entered the market. There are four categories of banks operating in
Tanzania, oriented towards different markets and clientèle: local private
banks, regional banks, international banks and multinational banks. Overall,
the outlook for the banking industry in Tanzania is very positive and there
are appealing opportunities for newcomers to the sector as investors and
borrowers. Banks are found in all districts of Tanzania.

Tanzania’s higher-than-average economic growth rate is fuelling the emergence

of an educated middle class that aspires to achieve a more affluent lifestyle in
which traditional depository, credit, insurance, and investment products play
an important role. The development of this middle class expands national
demand for financial services from established providers and could present a
new opportunity for financial service companies looking for growth.

There is a positive trend in lending to SMEs and this trend is producing greater
confidence in their growth potential among financial institutions and, more
generally, in the economy as well, which is generating a positive spiral. In
addition, the Government is also introducing new laws that are expected to
enhance lending activities.

4.4.4 Labour

Access to skilled labour is adequate. A priority investment opportunity lies in

training institutions at all levels (artisan, technical and tertiary level). Interested
parties are invited to invest in establishing skill development facilities.

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4.5 Inclusion and Participation of the Private Sector
Mbeya Region plans to stimulate its industrial and economic development
base through attracting additional private and public-private partnership
investments in order to increase its value addition in key sectors like agriculture,
as well as manufacturing to strengthen competitiveness and to raise its GDP.
Regional government and district authorities are ready and committed to
provide a series of further support services and incentives to drive industrial
development and growth in the short, medium and long-term plans.

According to national policies it is the role of the public sector to provide

basic enablers such as land, utilities, and infrastructure. These are normally
supported by and constructed using district, region and national public
budgets in addition to other resources or development partners’ support. It
is the private sector that is mainly supposed to play a major role in investing
in the region in the production, transportation, storage, processing, and
development of value chains and marketing of products.

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 PA R T F I V E

KEY CONTACTS IN MBEYA REGION

This part provides key contacts information in Mbeya Region that potential
investors may contact for further investment information, clarification or
follow up of the investment opportunities they would like to invest in.

5.1 Key Websites

Office Website
Mbeya Regional Secretariat www.mbeya.go.tz
Mbeya City Council www.mbeyacc.go.tz
Mbeya District Council www.mbeyadc.go.tz
Rungwe District Council www.rungwedc.go.tz
Busokelo District Council www.busokelodc.go.tz
Kyela District Council www.kyeradc.go.tz
Chunya District Council www.chunyadc.go.tz
Mbarali District Council www.mbaralidc.go.tz

5.2 Key Contacts

5.2.1 Regional Commissioner’s Office
Telephone/
Office Post Office Box E-mail
Mobile Phone
754, Uzunguni Road, +255 25 253034
Regional Commissioner (RC) ras@mbeya.go.tz
MBEYA +255 784 838650
Regional Administrative 754, Uzunguni Road, +255 25 253034
ras@mbeya.go.tz
Secretary (RAS) MBEYA +255 784 838650

5.2.2 Mbeya City Council

City Director
Office Telephone/ E-mail
Post Office Box
Mobile Phone
Council Chairperson 149 Mbalizi Road, MBEYA +255252502619 cd@mbeyacc.go.tz
City Director 149 Mbalizi Road, MBEYA +255 25 2502563 cd@mbeyacc.go.tz

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5.2.3 District Councils
District Executive Director
LGA E-mail
Telephone/
Post Office Box
Mobile Phone
599 Inyala ded@mbeyadc.go.tz
Mbeya District Council +255 25-2502260
MBEYA info@mbeyadc.go.tz
148 Tukuyu
Rungwe District Council +255 25 255 2586 ded@rungwedc.go.tz
MBEYA
2 Lwangwa, Tukuyu,
Busokelo District Council +255 737 205 318 ded@busokelodc.go.tz
MBEYA
320 Kyela,
Kyela District Coucil Bomani Street +255 252540035/7 ded@kyeladc.go.tz
MBEYA
237 Rujewa +255 25 295 7440 ded.mbarali@mbeya.
Mbarali District Council
MBEYA +255 25 295 7447 go.tz
73 Itigi Road
Chunya District Council Chunya +255 25 2520121 ded@chunyadc.go.tz
MBEYA

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