On July 28, 2025, Tanzania’s Industry and Trade minister Selemani Jafo dropped a bombshell: foreigners will be banned from operating in 15 types of small businesses. It’s a sweeping move that could dim the East African Community (EAC)’s dream of open borders and shared prosperity.
Under the “Business Licensing (Prohibition of Business Activities for Non-Citizens) Order”, foreigners are now barred from engaging in everyday trades such as retail and wholesale (except for supermarkets), hair salons unless inside hotels, small-scale food vending, mobile money kiosks, electronics repairs, tour guiding, parcel delivery, cleaning services, non-casino gambling, curio shops, real estate brokerage, small-scale mining, and even running local newspapers or radio stations.
