Dodoma offers free land to attract industrial investors

This announcement was made on Tuesday, September 23, 2024, by Mr Venance Mashiba, Tizesa's Central Zone Manager, during a visit to the designated site at Nala in Dodoma City. 

Mr Mashiba emphasised that land is a critical prerequisite for investment and, to simplify the process, the authority has designated an area where potential investors can receive land at no cost.

“There is no investment without land, and the process of land acquisition can be long. We have decided to ease this burden by providing free plots to investors based on their needs, allowing them to allocate funds that would have been spent on land to their capital instead,” he stated.

According to Mr Mashiba, investors must meet certain conditions, including creating at least 100 permanent jobs for Tanzanians, along with additional temporary jobs in the factories to be established. Local investors are required to have a minimum capital of $5 million, while foreign investors must have at least $10 million.

He noted that the response so far has been promising. Since the investment drive was announced on August 13, 2025, four investors have already expressed interest, with one in the initial stages of constructing a cooking oil factory.

Mr Mashiba added that the area is ready for investment, with key infrastructure such as tarmac roads, water, and electricity already in place to support industries including agro-processing, mineral refining, electric vehicle and motorbike assembly, cooking oil production, construction materials, and household goods.

Tizesa’s Public Relations and Communications Manager, Ms Pendo Gondwe, stated that the Nala site is part of a broader national strategy to promote large-scale industrialisation.

The goal is to establish 100 major factories in special economic zones across the country by 2030, positioning Tanzania as a leading industrial hub in Africa.

“By December, we are expected to meet our target of bringing in 100 factories to special economic zones, with Nala being one of the key sites. Diverse investors have already shown strong interest in the area,” she said.

Ms Gondwe also explained that investors who partner with Tanzanians in joint ventures would receive priority, including free land allocation, tax incentives on machinery, and exemptions or reductions on import duties for raw materials.

Meanwhile, Mr Varun Goyal, the Director of Karibu Naturals Limited, which is establishing a cooking oil factory at the site, reported that the company has already created 120 direct jobs for Tanzanians.

He added that the plant will rely on locally produced raw materials, which will help increase incomes for farmers.