CEOrt marks 25 years with legacy walk in Dar

DAR ES SALAAM: THE CEO Roundtable of Tanzania (CEOrt) has officially launched its 25th anniversary celebrations with a special event dubbed the ‘CEOrt Legacy Walk’, held in Dar es Salaam.

This historic walk, held over the weekend, brought together chief executives from various institutions, government stakeholders and development partners to collectively celebrate a quarter-century of leadership, collaboration and the private sector’s contribution to national development.

CEOrt was established in 2000 by a visionary group of Chief Executive Officers at a time when Tanzania was undergoing significant economic reforms and the voice of the private sector was not yet strongly represented in national policy discussions.

What began as an informal platform for policy dialogue has grown into a highly respected institution representing over 220 CEOs from key economic sectors.

These sectors not only provide employment but have also become major contributors to national economic development through taxation.

Over the past 25 years, CEOrt has been a pioneer in promoting ethical leadership, advocating for the private sector and strengthening public-private dialogue as a cornerstone of national development.

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CEOrt Chairman, David Tarimo, said reaching 25 years is a symbol of the success of the country’s private sector in asserting its voice, participating in policy-making and upholding key values.

“These celebrations affirm CEOrt’s position as a reliable partner in national development and we remain committed to fostering ethical leadership, good governance and genuine dialogue between the private sector and the government,” Mr Tarimo said last Saturday.

One of CEOrt’s most significant legacies—the National Integrity Pledge, which has been signed by all members as a public commitment to uphold ethics, integrity and responsible business practices.

This initiative has been endorsed by the government and has strengthened accountability within the private sector. CEOrt has also played a crucial role in building leadership capacity in the country through its ‘Aspiring Directors Programme-ADP), which will launch its sixth cohort in September.

This programme has produced 90 outstanding leaders, with over 30 per cent of its graduates now serving as CEOs or senior executives in major institutions. Notable alumni include Peter Nalitolela (CEO of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange – DSE), Obedi Laiser (CEO of Absa Bank) and Julius Ruwaichi (CEO of Selcom Microfinance).

The CEOrt Executive Director, Ms Santina Benson, said that through high-level platforms for dialogue and policy advocacy, the roundtable has been instrumental in improving the business environment in the country.

It has enabled open discussions between the private sector and the government and driven reforms in critical areas of economic transformation.

Vodacom Tanzania CEO Philip Besiimire said that as the telecom company also marks 25 years of connecting Tanzania, they are proud to walk alongside CEOrt in advancing a shared vision for a better and more inclusive future.

“The CEOrt Legacy Walk is a celebration of shared success — not just of CEOrt as an institution but of the longstanding partnerships that have shaped the private sector in this country,” he said.

In addition to Vodacom, other key supporters of the event included Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML), which is also commemorating its 25-year journey in contributing to Tanzania’s mining sector.

Simon Shayo, Vice-President of AngloGold Ashanti, ,a subsidiary of Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) , they believe that responsible business is sustainable business.

“The ‘CEOrt Legacy Walk’ holds special meaning for us, as we celebrate 25 years of our presence in Tanzania alongside CEOrt, reaffirming our commitment to collaboration, transparency and positive impact for the nation,” he said.

The ‘CEOrt Legacy Walk’ was sponsored by CEOrt members and various stakeholders united by shared values of leadership and nationbuilding, including Vodacom Tanzania, GGML, Aga Khan Health Services Tanzania, ARiS, G4S, Serengeti Breweries Limited and Cool Blue.