How law amendments will foster Dira 2050 implementation

DODOMA: When President Samia Suluhu Hassan launched the National Development Vision (NDV) 2050 in Dodoma on July 17, 2025, she proposed several measures that should be taken for the country to achieve a one-trillion-dollar economy. The measures and directives targeted both individual Tanzanians and institutions.

First and foremost, the Head of State advised that Tanzanians must change their mindset, the way they work and how they measure performance, as NDV 2050 has set an ambitious goal and target of attaining an upper-middle-income economy worth one trillion US dollars.

“It is clear that we cannot achieve this goal if we continue working as usual. We must change our mindset, perspective and actions,” she emphasised.

President Samia also directed that performance must be measured based on results, instructing the National Planning Commission (NPC), in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office, to urgently prepare, before implementation of NDV 2050 begins, tools to be used to measure performance in government based on the Vision’s goals and targets.

Secondly, and this is where this article focuses, the President directed every ministry to review its policies and ensure that they are aligned with the content of NDV 2050. Policies that are not aligned with the Vision must be reviewed and amended before implementation of NDV 2050 begins on July 1, 2026.

The Secretariat of the National Planning Commission (NPC) was directed to coordinate the exercise. In addition, the Tanzania Law Reform Commission and the Attorney General were also directed to begin the process of reviewing existing laws and come up with recommendations for legal reforms to facilitate the full implementation of the Vision.

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In response to the Head of State’s directives, the NPC, in collaboration with other institutions, including the Office of the Attorney General, has taken several measures to review existing laws and propose amendments. Some of the proposed amendments were subsequently presented to the National Assembly in Dodoma for lawmakers to deliberate on and pass.

During the Fourth Session of the 13th Parliament, Attorney General (AG) Hamza Johari presented the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2026. The proposed amendments initially targeted 21 laws. He also presented the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Bill, 2026, for debate and passage through the Second and Third Reading stages, after which the proposed amendments would become part of the laws of the country.

During his presentations, the AG emphasised that the Government would continue reviewing and improving laws to ensure that the National Development Vision 2050, which was passed by the National Assembly, is properly implemented.

According to him, the Vision seeks, among other objectives, to build a strong, inclusive and competitive economy while ensuring effective institutions, a conducive business and investment environment, transparency and accountability.

To achieve this objective, he said, the legal framework must continue to be updated to keep pace with economic, social, technological and global changes, remove implementation barriers and strengthen governance systems.

To substantiate this, AG Hamza Johari quoted former United States presidents Woodrow Wilson and Thomas Jefferson. He said Woodrow Wilson had observed that “A living law is one that changes in accordance with changes in society itself,” while Thomas Jefferson had said, “Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.”

“As the human mind becomes more enlightened and discovers new things, institutions must also change with the times. We cannot expect an adult to wear clothes that fitted them when they were a child,” he said, adding:

“Therefore, the reforms proposed by the Government at different times continue to lay the legal foundation for achieving the economic and institutional transformation envisaged in NDV 2050.”

The Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2026, which was before the august House, proposed amendments to 21 laws, including the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Cap. 423.

In the initial proposal, the AG proposed amendments to the following laws: the Atomic Energy Act, Cap. 188; the Bank of Tanzania Act, Cap. 197; the Business Names (Registration) Act, Cap. 213; the Civil Aviation Act, Cap. 80; the Companies Act, Cap. 212; the Criminal Procedure Act, Cap. 20; and the Drug Control and Enforcement Act, Cap. 95.

Other laws were the Rural Development Planning Institute Act, Cap. 174; the Institute of Accountancy Arusha Act, Cap. 240; the Interpretation of Laws Act, Cap. 1; the Judicial Administration Act, Cap. 237; the National Youth Council Act, Cap. 441; the Patents Act, Cap. 217; and the Prisons Act, Cap. 58.

Other laws included the Private Health Laboratories Management Act, Cap. 136; the Tanzania Library Services Act, Cap. 102; the Tanzania Tourist Board Act, Cap. 364; the Tourism Act, Cap. 65; the Trade and Service Marks Act, Cap. 326; and the Value Added Tax Act, Cap. 148.

After identifying the laws lined up for amendment, the AG informed the House that, following consultations between the Committee and the Government, he proposed through the Amendments Schedule that the proposed amendments to the Bank of Tanzania Act, Cap. 197, and the Value Added Tax Act, Cap. 148, be removed because they had been presented and dealt with through the Finance Bill, 2026.

Likewise, through the Amendments Schedule, he proposed the removal of the amendments to the Judicial Administration Act, Cap. 237, and the National Youth Council Act, Cap. 441, since the proposals required further consideration by the government.

After deliberation, lawmakers passed the amendments, with AG Johari assuring the august House that the move would facilitate the smooth implementation of NDV 2050.

The AG also tabled the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Bill, 2026, for debate and passage through the Second and Third Reading stages, after which the proposed amendments would become part of the laws of the country.

The Bill contained seven laws, namely the Land Use Planning Act, Cap. 116; the Local Government (District Authorities) Act, Cap. 287; the Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act, Cap. 288; the National Security Council Act, Cap. 61; the Natural Wealth and Resources (Permanent Sovereignty) Act, Cap. 449; the Valuation and Valuers Registration Act, Cap. 138; and the Wildlife Conservation Act, Cap. 283.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Governance, Constitution and Laws supported various amendments proposed in the Bill. However, regarding the appointment of members of the Tanzania Tourist Board, the Committee raised concerns over Clause 137 of the Bill, which sought to remove the existing representation of members of the Board and replace it with representation from other groups.

The Committee observed that the proposed amendments would remove the direct representation of Board members drawn from private-sector platforms and associations in the tourism sector. The proposals could therefore result in the private sector lacking representation on the Board.

To align with the objectives of NDV 2050, which emphasises the full participation of the private sector, the Committee recommended that this section be improved by recognising representation from the federation of tourism associations. The Government accepted the recommendation and improved Clause 137 of the Bill through the Government Amendments Schedule.

While the Committee agreed with the proposed amendments, its analysis showed that some areas required further improvement, including the appointment of members of the Tanzania Tourist Board.

Clause 137 of the Bill sought to remove the existing representation of members of the Board and introduce representation from other groups. However, the Committee noted that the amendments would remove the direct representation of members drawn from private-sector platforms and associations in the tourism sector.

The Committee therefore urged the Government to ensure that, in line with the objectives of NDV 2050, which emphasises full private-sector participation, the provision is improved to recognise representation from the federation of tourism associations. The Government accepted the recommendation and amended Clause 137 through the Government Amendments Schedule.