What equity turnover growth means

DAR ES SALAAM: THE performance of equity turnover in 2026 is, so far, highly promising.

With only a few trading days remaining before the end of April 2026 marking the completion of the first four months of the year, the total cumulative equity turnover has already reached 665bn/-.

Remarkably, this figure has surpassed the entire cumulative equity turnover recorded during all twelve months of 2025.

This strongly indicates that, if the current momentum continues, 2026 could become a record-breaking year, one in which the story of equity turnover will no longer be told in billions, but rather in trillions.

While we celebrate this growth, it is important to reflect on the reasons behind it so that we can identify which strategies and initiatives have worked well and apply more of them.

One major factor is the intensive awareness campaign carried out through different approaches and involving multiple stakeholders.

This success would not have been possible without the conducive business environment created by the government through the Capital Markets and Securities Authority (CMSA), the exchange itself, the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE), the active participation of licensed stockbrokers, including Vertex International Securities Ltd, where I work and the contribution of Certified Financial Educators (CFEs).

The strong coordination among these stakeholders has added significant value to this achievement. Another important contributor has been the use of digital platforms such as the Mobile Trading Platform (MTP), which has made investing more accessible and seamless.

The ability to invest in shares simply by downloading an app and completing transactions digitally has significantly contributed to market growth by removing traditional barriers.

Continuous review and improvement of policies and regulations guiding the market have also played a major role.

A supportive regulatory environment builds investor confidence, improves market efficiency and creates a stronger foundation for sustainable growth.

Despite this success, certain realities remain. The number of investors participating in the equity market is still below one million in a country of more than 68 million people.

This means that the majority of Tanzanians are still outside the formal equity investment space. Future awareness campaigns should focus more on increasing participation, especially in rural areas where many people are engaged in productive economic activities.

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With proper financial education, investment in equity can become a strong path toward financial freedom. Another critical area is the need for new equity products. As the market attracts more investors, there must also be more investment opportunities available.

This requires deliberate efforts to raise awareness among the business community about the importance of listing companies on the stock market.

Current turnover is still concentrated in only a few counters. While this is not necessarily negative, expanding the number of listed companies would provide investors with more options and strengthen market resilience.

Looking ahead, there is also a strong need to deepen trust and transparency. Investors, especially first-time participants, are highly influenced by confidence in the system.

Timely access to accurate information, strong corporate governance, and consistent disclosure of financial performance are essential in sustaining investor trust. Financial literacy should not be treated as a one-time campaign but as a continuous national agenda.

Capital market education should be integrated into universities, colleges and even secondary schools so that an investment culture is built early.

Many young people enter the workforce without understanding the power of long-term investing, yet they represent the future strength of the market.

At the same time, innovation in products such as SME-focused listings can attract new segments of investors and align the capital market with national priorities such as sustainability, industrialisation and job creation.

In conclusion, the growth of the equity market in 2026 is worth celebrating, but celebration alone is not enough. This momentum must be protected through deliberate action.

We must intensify investor education, expand participation across all regions and actively encourage more companies to list on the market.

The future of our capital market will be defined not by how we celebrate today’s success, but by how boldly we prepare for tomorrow’s demand.