We see Tanzania as Africa’s next great trade, logistic hub

DAR ES SALAAM: FOR decades, the Great Lakes of Africa—Victoria and Tanganyika—were viewed by many as natural barriers to trade. Today, they are being reimagined as “blue superhighways.” With the recent commissioning of the MV New Mwanza on Lake Victoria and the simultaneous construction of four 2,000-tonne cargo ships at Karema Port on Lake Tanganyika, we are steadily cementing our status as the definitive logistics heart of East and Central Africa.

These initiatives are not isolated infrastructure projects; they are the physical manifestation of Tanzania Development Vision 2050 and the Third and Fourth Five-Year Development Plans (FYDP III & IV).

By leveraging its unique geography, Tanzania is positioning itself to unlock the massive, untapped trade potential with the DR Congo, Burundi, Zambia, Kenya, and Uganda.

Tanzania is transitioning from a mere transit corridor into a sophisticated “platform economy.” The strategic goal is to monetise our location by dismantling the “logistics penalty”—which historically accounted for up to 45 per cent of import costs—and replacing it with a high-efficiency, multimodal trade super-system.

The true power of these vessels lies in their integration. When the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) reaches its full operational capacity, a container from the Port of Dar es Salaam will reach the shores of Lake Victoria or Lake Tanganyika in a matter of hours, not days.

From there, the MV New Mwanza and the new Karema fleet take over, bypassing congested road borders and the high costs of trucking. Estimates suggest that ferrying fuel or minerals by water can be up to 40 per cent cheaper than road transport, providing a massive competitive edge to Tanzanian and regional traders.

ALSO READ: Lawmakers urge patience over Chuini fishing port

By modernising its inland waterways, Tanzania is aligning perfectly with regional frameworks like the EAC, SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We are moving beyond the “transit” model toward a “logistics hub” model.

The ships at Karema Port, specifically designed to ferry minerals like copper and lithium from the DRC, ensure that Tanzania remains the preferred route for the world’s most critical green-energy resources.

To fully realise this potential, we must maintain the momentum. This means ensuring our regulatory environment remains investor-friendly and maintaining the high technical standards seen in our South Korean and Chinese shipbuilding partnerships.

Tanzania is at a historic crossroads, transitioning from a mere transit corridor into a sophisticated “platform economy”—a regional hub where we don’t just facilitate the passage of goods, but anchor the trade, industry, and services that drive the continent.