Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses - Foreign Affairs

Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses - Foreign Affairs - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Foreign Affairs › Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses (19084 Views)

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Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Samantha125(op): 9:50pm On Jul 31, 2025

Tanzania has enacted sweeping new restrictions barring foreigners from operating a broad range of small businesses, in a move aimed at protecting grassroots economic activity and preserving opportunities for local citizens.

The new regulation, Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025, was officially published on July 28, 2025, under Government Notice No. 487A, and signed by Dr. Selemani Jafo, the Minister for Industry and Trade.

Under the directive, foreigners are prohibited from participating in 15 specific business sectors considered critical to grassroots economic empowerment. These sectors, traditionally dominated by Tanzanians, are seen by the government as vital to local job creation and income generation.

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/tanzania-bans-foreigners-from-running-small-businesses-to-preserve-citizens/13nltyx

17 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by franchasng: 9:57pm On Jul 31, 2025

This is laudable, Nigerian government need to emulate this.

Ban Chinese people from operating small and medium scale trading businesses.

Chinese citizens should only be allowed to operate manufacturing, production and other large scale businesses.

They should be banned from opening small and medium scale trading businesses in Nigeria.

If this is not done, Chinese will soon Pursue Nigerian small and medium scale businesses from operation

75 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by NothingDoMe: 1:39am On Aug 01, 2025

Sounds very much like someone is scared of competition.

76 Likes 9 Shares

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Watcharena: 4:28am On Aug 01, 2025

franchasng:
This is laudable, Nigerian government need to emulate this.

Ban Chinese people from operating small and medium scale trading businesses.

Chinese citizens should only be allowed to operate manufacturing, production and other large scale businesses.

They should be banned from opening small and medium scale trading businesses in Nigeria.

If this is not done, Chinese will soon Pursue Nigerian small and medium scale businesses from operation

imagine they banned opay today.

How many Nigerians have money bridge the gap in these businesses

40 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by AlphaTaikun: 7:31pm On Aug 01, 2025

Samantha125:
Tanzania has enacted sweeping new restrictions barring foreigners from operating a broad range of small businesses, in a move aimed at protecting grassroots economic activity and preserving opportunities for local citizens.

The new regulation, Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order, 2025, was officially published on July 28, 2025, under Government Notice No. 487A, and signed by Dr. Selemani Jafo, the Minister for Industry and Trade.

Under the directive, foreigners are prohibited from participating in 15 specific business sectors considered critical to grassroots economic empowerment. These sectors, traditionally dominated by Tanzanians, are seen by the government as vital to local job creation and income generation.

That's one major form of protectionism with global precedents. Tanzania FIRST... America FIRST.

5 Likes 1 Share

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by dominique(mod): 12:29pm On Aug 03, 2025

This could backfire on their citizens running small businesses in neighbouring countries

29 Likes 1 Share

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by ImoleNaija: 12:30pm On Aug 03, 2025

In other words, they do not want struggling immigrants in their country.

37 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Lovelies1: 12:31pm On Aug 03, 2025

This is bad, cause small business do thrive to be a big business.

3 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Fiscus105(m): 12:32pm On Aug 03, 2025

You want to grow your economy or you want to kill it? Yet ur own citizens smulligling themselves to other nations to run small businesses.

48 Likes 1 Share

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Lovelies1: 12:32pm On Aug 03, 2025

franchasng:
This is laudable, Nigerian government need to emulate this.

Ban Chinese people from operating small and medium scale trading businesses.

Chinese citizens should only be allowed to operate manufacturing, production and other large scale businesses.

They should be banned from opening small and medium scale trading businesses in Nigeria.

If this is not done, Chinese will soon Pursue Nigerian small and medium scale businesses from operation

No wrong on all scale. Instead the government should run a policy that supports small scale business.. many people will still be employed and busy

6 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Image123(m): 12:32pm On Aug 03, 2025

Chai, Tanzania that opposition look up to? It is well oh

70 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Dpharisee: 12:32pm On Aug 03, 2025

Nairaland can be depressing, avoid reading comments on page 1 it's always filled by the same people promoting bigotry for years on this platform

52 Likes 1 Share

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by HEAVEN4444: 12:33pm On Aug 03, 2025

Watcharena:
imagine they banned opay today.

How many Nigerians have money bridge the gap in these businesses

opay no do dat wan ooooooooooo 😞😞😠😠 hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Fiscus105(m): 12:34pm On Aug 03, 2025

franchasng:
This is laudable, Nigerian government need to emulate this.

Ban Chinese people from operating small and medium scale trading businesses.

Chinese citizens should only be allowed to operate manufacturing, production and other large scale businesses.

If this is not done, Chinese will soon Pursue Nigerian small and medium scale businesses from operation

Can you mention just 3 small businesses that Chinese operating in Ur neighbourhood?

The reason why you guy doesn't know tools the leaders using to play your head is worrisome.

The article says, the businesses are already dominated by indigenes, so why legislating on businesses that arn't even given chance to foreigners?

Go and study these 3 words.

Propaganda, shenanigans & populism!

11 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by victorazyvictor(m): 12:35pm On Aug 03, 2025

Yeye country with myopic mind of foolishness. Even Dubai can do without foreigners.

2 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Stolen: 12:35pm On Aug 03, 2025

YEAH WE HAVE OUR GHANIAN BROTHERS TO THANK FOR IT.

WHEN NIGERIA FOLLOWS AND ALL AFRICANS DO SAME, WE WILL SEE WHERE THE GHANIANS WILL GO.

THEY ARE HERE IN NIGERIA INVOLVED IN ALL SECTOR UNDISTURBED BUT EVERYTIME ON THE NEWS FOR BIGOTRY.

14 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Trustedpronet: 12:38pm On Aug 03, 2025

China and Lebanon are now buying products from our country directly, painting cars, buying iron at lowest prize instead of international prizes..... it's way to go if you don't want your citizen to go hungry.

3 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by newdawn2017(f): 12:40pm On Aug 03, 2025

NothingDoMe:
Sounds very much like someone is scared of competition.

yea on their ancestral lands. Indigenous people must thrive. undecided

1 Like

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by aribisala0(m): 12:40pm On Aug 03, 2025

NothingDoMe:
Sounds very much like someone is scared of competition.

Is competition a goal or achievement in itself for the sake of competition or is it supposed to serve a purpose
Is competition some kind of moral or spiritual virtue and those who are scared of competition won't go to heaven
What is the purpose of competition

I believe the World Trade Organization exists because everyone protects their interests
By the evidence of the last 4 months we should conclude that no one is more scared of competition than Trump the same people who preached free trade and democracy are using tariff against Brazil because an ally is being prosecuted

The tragedy is the gullible enablers in poor countries who swallow and echo the classroom doctrines

62 Likes 1 Share

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by musicwriter(m): 12:41pm On Aug 03, 2025*

If anything, what they should've rather done is train locals in those industries, then provide them loan to establish theirs. Outrightly banning foreigners in those industries would actually hurt the Tanzanian economy

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by OlawaleBammie: 12:43pm On Aug 03, 2025

NothingDoMe:
Sounds very much like someone is scared of competition.

either competition or not, protect ur citizens first.....

Jo be competition ur citizen go chop..

1 Like

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by omooba969(m): 12:43pm On Aug 03, 2025

This is good for the Tanzanian locals and their local economy.

2 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by CorrectionFLuid: 12:43pm On Aug 03, 2025

franchasng:
This is laudable, Nigerian government need to emulate this.

Ban Chinese people from operating small and medium scale trading businesses.

Chinese citizens should only be allowed to operate manufacturing, production and other large scale businesses.

They should be banned from opening small and medium scale trading businesses in Nigeria.

If this is not done, Chinese will soon Pursue Nigerian small and medium scale businesses from operation

Black man eh.. who do these Chinese people employ? As in what is wrong with the head of a black man for goodness sake... And why are we ever so ready to applaud when other people are victims of exclusionist policies, but hate when we are at the receiving end? Why do we hate anything that's not us? Even down to tribes and religion and even denomination?

If trump enacts this policy in America, this your comment would be different. If you are Igbo, and the Lagos government came up with this, your comment would also be different. If you are Yoruba and Soludo enacts this sort of rubbish policy, your comment would also be different.

Back to topic, if an outsider is dominating you in your country, then you're either too lazy, or dumb. Making eye service moves such as this is merely short term political rubbish. It will solve nothing and will ruin things in the medium to long term.

Mugabe chased away white farmers, a short term political move. His country ended up slipping into famine.

13 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by aribisala0(m): 12:44pm On Aug 03, 2025

OlawaleBammie:
either competition or not, protect ur citizens first.....

Jo be competition ur citizen go chop..

What is the purpose of competition
Is Tanzania a stadium

2 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by omooba969(m): 12:48pm On Aug 03, 2025

musicwriter:
If anything, what they should've rather done is train locals in those industries, them provide them loan to establish theirs. Outrightly banning foreigners in those industries would actually hurt the Tanzanian economy

E go good make you try explain how the measure go hurt their economy.

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by OlawaleBammie: 12:50pm On Aug 03, 2025

aribisala0:
What is the purpose of competition
Is Tanzania a stadium

I don't even know jare...

Any small move to protect the citizens the next phrase is "seems someone is afraid of competition"

In the first place must my citizens compete with you??
Must they compete in their own enclaves?

2 Likes

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by MaziObinnaokija: 12:50pm On Aug 03, 2025

why

? Hiw we go develop without doing small biz angry

? Tanzanian is NO MAN'S LAND angry

1 Like

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by Jakumo(m): 12:51pm On Aug 03, 2025*

franchasng:
This is laudable, Nigerian government need to emulate this.

Ban Chinese people from operating small and medium scale trading businesses.

Chinese citizens should only be allowed to operate manufacturing, production and other large scale businesses.

They should be banned from opening small and medium scale trading businesses in Nigeria.

If this is not done, Chinese will soon Pursue Nigerian small and medium scale businesses from operation

Chinese poultry operators using poisonous hormones to hasten the maturity of broiler chickens have destroyed Ghana's indigenous poultry farm business, while Chinese miners have ruined rivers throughout Ghana by dumping highly toxic mercury into those waters in their quest to mine river beds for gold with total disregard for the environment and those who depend on rivers for water.

In Nigeria, Chinese businesses burn car tires as fuel and dump tonnes of deadly poison into the air as pollution that will claim lives by the thousand over time, while all across Africa, Chinese loggers are laying waste entire forests with their wanton plunder of tropical hardwood.

The initiative of expelling those parasites in Tanzania MUST be emulated by Nigeria before it is too late and the Chinese come to own Nigeria, just as they now own Ghana and Eritrea where a Chinese military base with thousands of Chinese troops are ready to destroy all opposition.

5 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Tanzania Bans Foreign Nationals From Running Small Businesses by aribisala0(m): 12:51pm On Aug 03, 2025

CorrectionFLuid:
Black man eh.. who do these Chinese people employ? As in what is wrong with the head of a black man for goodness sake

Ps, if an outsider is dominating you in your country, then you're either too lazy, or dumb. Making eye service moves such as this is merely short term political rubbish. It will solve nothing and will ruin things in the medium to long term.

It is possible to analyse a situation without airing your inferiority complex
There is nothing wrong with black men
One could ask questions get information and analyse it
Not plunge into ignorant insults about black men
If you had the capacity you would have asked an elementary question

WHICH OTHER COUNTRIES DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. Then you would do a quick search

YOU CANNOT GIVE WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE
But you give what you have ignorant emotionally charged self loathing

In China there is something called the Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL).

Something like this has been in China. FOREVER

no one insults them and it benefits them

7 Likes 1 Share

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