A strong close, a brighter 2026 for investors

DAR ES SALAAM: THE curtain fell on 2025 not with a whisper, but with a resounding bang. In just four trading days, three closing the year and one ushering in 2026, the securities exchange market recorded a remarkable turnover of 28.17bn/-, with 27.86 million shares changing hands.

This was not a routine market close. It was a statement.

A bold declaration that Tanzania’s capital market is not only alive, but accelerating with confidence into the future.

Such numbers do more than decorate market reports; they tell a story of momentum, trust and growing participation.

A strong close often sets the emotional and financial tone for what follows and in this case, the opening of 2026 mirrors that same energy. Investors did not pause to reflect, they pressed forward.

That continuity between closure and opening is a powerful signal: Belief in the market remains intact.

One fact that would be unfair, indeed irresponsible to ignore is the dominance of CRDB Bank counter, which accounted for an impressive 97.75 per cent of the total market turnover during this period.

This level of concentration is extraordinary. It speaks volumes about investor confidence in the bank’s fundamentals, strategy and long-term outlook.

CRDB Bank investors may be the best placed to reveal the “secret” behind this overwhelming appetite, but one thing is clear: The market rewards clarity, performance and consistency.

Beyond individual counters, what stands out most is the direction of the market itself.

This closure-opening transition reinforces a broader truth: Tanzania’s capital market is growing, not slowly, not cautiously, but dramatically. More participants are entering, liquidity is improving and awareness is rising.

The conversation around investing is no longer limited to boardrooms and financial institutions; it is reaching households, young professionals, students and entrepreneurs.

For existing investors, 2026 should not be a year of complacency. Strong market performance is not a cue to sit back; it is an invitation to do more, to diversify portfolios, to explore new instruments, to reinvest dividends wisely and to stay informed.

Markets reward discipline and patience, but they also favour those who remain engaged. The opportunities that lie ahead will belong to investors who combine optimism with strategy.

ALSO READ: Tanzania’s quiet boom: Why investors take closer look at EA’s rising hub

For those still standing on the sidelines, the message is even clearer. Every market cycle has moments that later look obvious in hindsight, moments when the signs were all there, but hesitation delayed action. This transition from 2025 to 2026 is one such moment.

The market is sending signals of strength, participation and confidence. Waiting for a ‘perfect time’ often means watching others build wealth while you observe from a distance.

Capital markets are not reserved for the wealthy or the highly connected. They are platforms for shared growth, financial inclusion and long-term value creation.

Whether one begins with a modest investment or a sizable portfolio, the most important step is simply to begin. As the well-known saying goes, the best day to start investing was yesterday; the next best day is today.

As we celebrate this successful closure and promising opening, one truth stands firm: 2026 is not a year to merely observe the market it is a year to actively participate in shaping it.

The momentum is undeniable, the numbers are compelling and the confidence flowing through the market signals a future ready to be claimed.

This is a clear call to market stakeholders to rise to the moment by introducing innovative, inclusive and diversified investment products that respond to the evolving needs of investors, especially youth and firsttime participants.

It is also a timely appeal to policymakers and regulators to continuously review and refine existing policies, ensuring that investing becomes more seamless, transparent and accessible, while maintaining the integrity of the market.

Most importantly, Tanzania must increasingly position the capital market as the primary engine for mobilising domestic resources to finance social and economic development.

From infrastructure and healthcare to education and climate resilience, the market holds the power to convert local savings into national progress.

The market has already made its move. Now it is time for every stakeholder to act, decisively, boldly and without delay.