Historic milestone as Samia unveils Development Vision 2050

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania on Thursday unveiled its long-awaited national development blueprint—Vision 2050—with President Samia Suluhu Hassan calling it a historic milestone and a firm foundation for the country’s socio-economic transformation over the next 25 years.

Launched at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Centre in Dodoma, the Vision 2050 framework seeks to transition Tanzania into a high-income, resilient, just and inclusive society by mid-century.

“This is a defining moment for our country. President Hassan. “We are laying the foundation stone for the future aspirations of our people. The challenge before us is to convert our abundant resources into real development outcomes for all Tanzanians,” President Hassan said.

She added, “Tanzania is blessed with natural wealth, land, and strategic location. But many citizens are still poor. Vision 2050 is about planning, unity, and implementation—it is about turning potential into prosperity.”

Planning with people at the core

President Hassan emphasised that the new strategy was informed by voices from across the country, making it the most inclusive national development vision yet.

“The Vision 2050 document reflects the aspirations of Tanzanians. It was created by Tanzanians, funded by Tanzanians, and will be implemented by Tanzanians in collaboration with our development partners,” she said.

She stressed that the journey to 2050 must be rooted in peace, stability, and national cohesion.

“There’s a saying: a tree with deep roots is not shaken by storms. For 60 years, Tanzania has remained stable through storms that rocked other parts of Africa. This is our greatest strength, and we must preserve it.”

The President also addressed recent Vice President Dr Philip Mpango, who had earlier hinted at stepping down. She clarified that he remains deeply involved in guiding long-term planning.

“He will take a kind of break—but he’s still working. He plays a vital role in steering the development agenda,” she said.

Vision born from the people

National Planning Commission (NPC) executive secretary Fred Msemwa noted that Vision 2050 is the result of an extensive participatory process that involved more than 1.17 million Tanzanians.

“We reached out to citizens both inside and outside the country. Over 8,000 people gave input via free SMS, 200,000 through social media, and 22,000 through public forums and workshops,” Dr Msemwa said.

He revealed that the document was structured around 12 thematic areas and benchmarked against global experiences in Asia and Africa, notably Botswana.

“The entire process was locally led and government-funded. We also learned from other nations, but our solutions are uniquely Tanzanian.”

The drafting team, led by Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, was overseen by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and Zanzibar Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla.

Before beginning work on the new strategy, the team conducted a critical review of Vision 2025 to identify gaps and draw lessons.

A blueprint for inclusive, sustainable growth

The Minister of State in the President’s Office (Planning and Investment), Prof Kitila Mkumbo, outlined the ambitious targets of Vision 2050, which include raising per capita income to between $4,516 and $14,005.

The numbers are thresholds for upper-middle-income economies as defined by the World Bank.

Structured around seven core components, including five guiding principles, four strategic goals, 18 targets, three pillars and five enablers, Vision 2050 seeks to position Tanzania among Africa’s top 10 economies.

Key goals include achieving a GDP of $1 trillion with per capita income of $7,000 by 2050 (about Sh18.2 million annually), eradicating extreme poverty and becoming Africa’s leading food producer and one of the world’s top 10.

The Vision also seeks to increase life expectancy to 75 years, ensure 90 percent of children reach full developmental potential by age five, achieve universal access to quality healthcare, early childhood development, and inclusive education, ensure that at least 25 percent of citizens attaining higher education and ensure that 50 percent of the population engaged in decent formal employment.

Additionally, 70 percent of citizens are expected to be digitally skilled, with over 80 percent of government services delivered online. Electricity consumption is projected to reach 3,000 KWh per capita annually, and gender inequality reduced by 85 percent.

Tackling inequality is also central to the strategy, with a target of reducing gender inequality by 85 percent. On the infrastructure and energy front, the goal is to increase electricity consumption to 3,000 kilowatt-hours per capita annually, reflecting improvements in access and industrial capacity.

Education is a cornerstone of the vision, with a target of reaching 25 percent enrolment in higher education institutions. Additionally, it aims to ensure that at least 50 percent of the national workforce is engaged in formal and decent employment by 2050.

These goals reflect a comprehensive, inclusive, and forward-looking strategy designed to position Tanzania as a prosperous and equitable nation in the decades to come

Prof Mkumbo said a Long-Term Perspective Plan and a new Five-Year Development Plan will be prepared to operationalise Vision 2050, with the latter expected to be tabled in Parliament by November 2025.

A vision anchored in experience and continuity

Former President Jakaya Kikwete, who also spoke at the event, lauded the participatory nature of the Vision’s drafting.

“This is a well-thought-out strategy. I met with the drafting team twice and saw that they listened to citizens and leaders alike. The goal of becoming a high-income country is not just a dream it’s achievable,” he said.

Mr Kikwete welcomed the government’s move to pair the vision with an actionable plan and submit it to Parliament, ensuring political legitimacy and continuity.

“Other countries have done it; so can we. The difference lies in commitment and execution,” he said.

He said by deciding to adopt the Vision, President Hassan has shown that she was a visionary and patriotic leader.

Zanzibar backs national development agenda

President of Zanzibar Hussein Mwinyi echoed the sentiments, calling on all Tanzanians to embrace the Vision with optimism.

“This is a historic day. The vision is comprehensive, inclusive, and grounded in the aspirations of every Tanzanian,” he said. “It addresses livelihoods, economic growth, governance, and unity.”

Dr Mwinyi noted that successful implementation depends on peace, strong institutions, and consistent economic growth—all of which Tanzania currently possesses.

Private sector’s call for local empowerment

Business magnate Rostam Aziz praised the Vision but called for policy reforms to empower local entrepreneurs.

“Tanzania excels in drafting plans. But we must fix our implementation. Let’s support Tanzanian businesses, especially in access to capital,” he said.

Mr Aziz criticised banks for failing to provide affordable credit to local firms, saying Tanzanian companies could have built large-scale projects like the Standard Gauge Railway and the Nyerere Dam if given proper financial support.

“We’ve spent over Sh30 trillion on infrastructure in 15 years—imagine if that money had stayed within the country.”

Mr Aziz proposed the establishment of a $100 million annual Talent Development Fund to sponsor 1,000 Tanzanian youth in critical fields such as AI, data science, and engineering.

“This is not charity—it’s a strategic investment in the future. We need to empower our youth and bring back skilled Tanzanians from the diaspora.”

Development partners reaffirm commitment

The launch also saw a strong endorsement from development partners. United Nations Resident Coordinator Susan Ngongi Namondo praised the government’s leadership and the broad-based consultation process.

“This Vision was born out of deep national dialogue. It is your promise to every child, every farmer, and every entrepreneur,” she said.

Ms Namondo acknowledged Tanzania’s progress under Vision 2025, including lower maternal and child mortality, macroeconomic stability, food self-sufficiency, and improved education outcomes.

She pledged the continued support of development partners in helping Tanzania realise its 2050 goals through financing, technical assistance, and collaboration.

“We look forward to helping unlock investments, drive inclusive growth, and support implementation. There is still much work to be done.”