Tanzania Blocks Foreigners from Operating Small Businesses

Tanzania has introduced a wide-ranging ban preventing foreigners from engaging in 15 key small business sectors, aiming to protect local livelihoods and economically empower citizens. The new directive, signed by Industry and Trade Minister Dr. Selemani Jafo, targets activities like running retail shops, mobile phone repair businesses, real estate brokerages, and small-scale mining. Offenders face fines, imprisonment, and potential revocation of visas and residence permits. Critics warn the policy could provoke retaliatory restrictions and disrupt regional cooperation. The move has already triggered regional unease, particularly among East African Community (EAC) states like Kenya, whose citizens often work informally in Tanzania. This protectionist shift follows Tanzania’s recent ban on the use of foreign currencies for domestic transactions, signaling a broader push for economic nationalism under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

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