PM: Prioritise local firms key projects

DODOMA: PRIME Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has directed procurement authorities to prioritise Tanzanian-owned firms in major strategic projects, saying stronger local participation is key to job creation, private sector growth and economic ownership.

Dr Nchemba issued the directive while opening the Fifth National Conference on Tanzanians’ Participation in Strategic Projects and Investments, yesterday where he challenged government officials, procurement entities and the business community to rethink their approach to local participation.

He said the country could not continue recording economic growth while many citizens remained poor due to limited opportunities to take part in productive activities.

“Let us not be afraid to make Tanzanians hold the economy of their country,” he said, noting that increased local participation will ensure benefits from national resources remain within the economy.

The Premier stressed that companies benefiting from local-content opportunities must be genuinely Tanzanian, cautioning against foreign firms registering locally to access reserved opportunities.

“We want Tanzanians to participate,” he said, insisting that beneficiaries must reflect true local ownership and identity.

Dr Nchemba said awarding strategic projects to capable local firms will help them build financial and technical capacity to handle larger assignments, warning against the perception that foreign firms are automatically superior.

He urged that Tanzanian companies be given fair opportunities, provided they demonstrate competence and deliver quality work.

“When a local company succeeds in a major project, the benefits extend widely through jobs and opportunities for other Tanzanians,” he said.

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The PM linked the push to the country’s Vision 2050, which targets a private sectorled economy accounting for about 70 per cent, with the public sector contributing 30 per cent. “If we fail the private sector, we fail the country,” he said.

He also called on citizens to support, rather than envy, successful local entrepreneurs, saying their growth contributes to national development and reduces reliance on informal livelihoods.

Dr Nchemba further directed procurement officials to enforce local-content laws without fear, warning that violators should face action.

He said the Prime Minister’s Office, in collaboration with the Economic Empowerment Council, will continue improving the National Local Content framework and strengthening oversight to ensure its objectives are met.

At the same time, he urged Tanzanian firms to uphold professionalism, efficiency and financial discipline, cautioning that mismanagement could weaken confidence in local contractors.

He cited cases where some firms allegedly diverted advance payments to luxury purchases instead of project execution. Earlier, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament, Coordination and Persons with Disabilities), Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, urged Tanzanian businesses to believe in themselves and focus on delivering results.

He said President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan has consistently emphasised the need for Tanzanians; contractors, engineers and entrepreneurs to take part fully in the country’s economic activities.