How Tanzania is Building a Digital Future with ICT, Cybersecurity, and Clean Energy

Welcome to our third weekly roundup of 2025.

Today, we explore:

• How the Parliament’s effort to regulate AI and cybercrime will impact innovation and investment
• Whether ride-hailing companies can succeed in smaller cities
• The upcoming TEHAMA Awards

Plus seven other important stories across Tanzania’s innovation ecosystem.

1. Government Plans Local Laptop Assembly to Increase ICT Proficiency

Tanzania’s Information and Communication Technologies Commission (ICTC) is advancing plans to establish a laptop manufacturing facility focused on producing devices for primary and secondary schools under the “Tanzanite” brand name.

ICTC Director General Dr. Nkundwe Mwasaga confirmed ongoing discussions with India's QuadGen Wireless Solutions Pvt. Ltd. to explore joint venture (JV) investments in local semi-knocked-down (SKD) assembly plants.

The Bangalore-based company has expressed interest in setting up facilities for both laptops and smart boards targeting educational institutions.

Beyond hardware production, ICTC has partnered with Italian firm AlmaWave to develop Swahili-based artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This collaboration aims to create large language models (LLM) that will enable Tanzanians to develop AI innovations using Kiswahili across various economic sectors.

The initiatives align with two goals:

• Support African Union's (AU) push for local ICT equipment production
• Expand Swahili’s role in global technology development

These projects support Tanzania’s Digital Economy Framework (2024-2034), which aims to:

• Build nationwide internet and computer networks - Connecting all government offices, schools, and hospitals to high-speed internet and installing more data centers to store information
• Train 65% of Tanzania’s tech workers in advanced skills by 2029 - Focusing on practical skills like programming, cybersecurity, and data analysis
• Make all government payments digital by 2026 - Moving from cash to digital payments for all public services through a single unified payment system
• Connect all 12,345 villages to electricity by 2026
• Install digital water meters in 90% of water utilities by 2029 to improve revenue collection and service delivery
• Build 3 submarine cable landing stations by 2028 to improve international internet connectivity
• Establish digital business registration in all regions to simplify starting companies
• Create electronic tax payment systems that can automatically track and collect from online businesses

The ICTC expects to announce specific implementation timelines and production targets in the coming months.

2. Parliament Wants AI, Cybercrime Tackled Jointly

Tanzania’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure is calling for coordinated action between the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to combat cybercrime and artificial intelligence (AI) abuse.

Committee Chairman Selemani Kakoso specifically urged stricter monitoring to ensure all SIM cards are registered under their rightful owners, emphasizing this as a critical step in reducing fraudulent activities, identity theft, and other online crimes.

Separately, Minister of Communication and Information Technology Jerry Silaa provided updates on existing cybersecurity measures. He assured the committee that Tanzania’s cyberspace remains secure and reported that public education campaigns have reached approximately three million citizens across multiple regions, focusing on helping people identify and prevent cyber threats.

The committee’s recommendations address two key areas:

• Improved oversight of emerging technologies, including AI regulation
• Strengthened enforcement of SIM card registration compliance

The initiative comes as Tanzania’s digital economy expands, with 63.2 million mobile money subscriptions (TCRA, Dec 2024) and 92 non-bank payment system providers (BoT, 2023). Digital transactions are becoming increasingly central to daily commerce.

Both ministries are now tasked with developing joint strategies to:

• Control AI risks while letting companies use the technology
• Help catch threats that no single office can handle alone

Subscribe now

3. Government Services Now Using National Physical Address System

Tanzania’s National Physical Addressing (NaPA) system has seen integration with 13 key government service platforms. It’s an important expansion in digital public infrastructure (DPI).

The newly NaPA-integrated platforms include...

• TAMISEMI’s TAUSI: A digital revenue collection system implemented across 156 local government authorities managing 5,053 POS terminals that accept levies and business license fees
• TRA’s Block Management System (BMS): A database for capturing and organizing information on informal businesses to promote tax compliance and SME registration
• TANESCO’s Nikonekt: A mobile app for customers to request power services, track applications, report emergencies, lodge complaints, and make inquiries.
• TPC’s Posta Kiganjani: Offers virtual post office boxes, parcel sending/receiving, shipment tracking, and e-commerce for over 1,200 entrepreneurs and traders.
• TTCL’s T-Faiba Portal: Enables customers to apply for fiber internet service, track usage, and manage their accounts online - with plans starting at TZS 55,000 per month for 20/10 Mbps
• TCRA’s Tanzanite Portal: Enabling individuals and businesses to remotely apply for, renew, and manage various communication service licenses
• NEMC’s PMS: For environmental impact assessment and audit management.
• EWURA’s LOIS platform

The government is simultaneously developing five national systems to improve service delivery:

• Jamii XChange and ZanXchange for cross-agency data sharing
• Jamii Namba digital identity system
• e-KYC customer verification platform
• Jamii Pay digital payment system
• Safari Hunt for ICT innovation registration

Additionally, NaPA teams are collecting and verifying physical addresses for tourist sites across 21 national parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, expanding the system's coverage to key economic zones.

The initiative aligns with Tanzania's e-Government Strategy 2022, with plans to enable citizens to use street addresses instead of local government letters for identification when accessing public services.

4. Fintech Leads Tanzanian Startup Funding

Tanzania’s fintech sector is demonstrating strong growth, with $43 million raised in Q3 2024 alone. Notable transactions include NALA’s $40 million funding round, highlighting increased investor confidence in Tanzanian-led digital financial services.

The Bank of Tanzania’s Fintech Regulatory Sandbox continues to attract new players, with companies like Selcom, AzamPay, and Credable expanding their operations. Recent entrants include Swahilies, which secured early-stage funding, and Settlo, which received undisclosed investment backing in recent times.

Local fintech ecosystem growth is driven by:

• Increasing mobile money adoption across urban and rural areas
• Cross-border payment opportunities in East Africa
• Growing demand for digital lending and insurance products

The sector’s expansion is supported by Tanzania’s regulatory framework, which balances innovation with consumer protection. This approach has helped establish Tanzania as an emerging fintech hub in East Africa.

5. Samsung Brings AI-Powered Galaxy S25 to Tanzania

Samsung has launched its Galaxy S25 Series in Tanzania, introducing advanced AI capabilities to the local smartphone market. The devices feature the custom Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, emphasizing on-device AI processing and modern security features.

Manish Jangra, Team Lead at Samsung Tanzania, highlighted the series’ focus on artificial intelligence experiences that adapt to individual user needs while maintaining data privacy.

Key features include:

• Next-generation ProVisual Engine for advanced photography
• Context-aware AI for intuitive multitasking
• Enhanced thermal management for sustained performance
• Sustainable design with 50% recycled cobalt in batteries

Mgope Kiwanga, Head of Mobile Business at Samsung Tanzania, has stressed the devices’ alignment with local digital transformation goals, particularly in supporting mobile-first business applications and digital content creation.

6. New Clean Energy Project Underway

Tanzania’s first geothermal power initiative, dubbed "Ngozi,” is advancing toward its goal of generating clean energy by 2028.

The Tanzania Geothermal Development Company (TGDC) is preparing to drill its first deep geothermal well, marking a crucial step in the project's development.

Ngozi’s significance extends beyond power generation to:

• Creating opportunities for local tech companies in monitoring and control systems
• Establishing framework for future renewable energy projects
• Supporting data center development with reliable, clean power
• Enabling green technology initiatives across multiple sectors

This initiative positions Tanzania to:

• Become a regional leader in geothermal technology
• Create opportunities for tech companies specializing in energy management and monitoring systems.

7. Bolt Expands to Kilimanjaro Region

Bolt’s launch in Moshi is a strategic expansion of digitally enabled mobility in Tanzania’s tourism hub.

The company’s entry into the Kilimanjaro region brings modern ride-hailing technology to a key tourist destination.

Key development aspects include:

• Introduction of electric motorcycles, building on successful Arusha pilots
• Integration with local tourism operators and hospitality services
• Job creation for local drivers and support staff
• Stronger transportation safety through digital tracking and payments

Dimmy Kanyankole, Bolt’s General Manager for Tanzania, confirmed plans to expand services to other tourism-centric regions, following successful launches in urban centers including Morogoro, where operations align with new standard gauge railway services.

8. New Awards to Showcase Tech Excellence

The upcoming TEHAMA Awards 2025, scheduled for February 21 at the PAPU Building in Arusha, will recognize outstanding achievements in Tanzania's technology sector.

The event, organized by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, ICT Commission, Soft Ventures, and TISPA, spans 22 awards across 10 focus areas.

Key trophy categories include:

• Innovation in ICT Products or Services
• Best Use of ICT
• Women in ICT
• ICT Security Solutions

Daniel Mhina of Soft Ventures recently emphasized the awards’ role in promoting collaboration and visibility within Tanzania’s tech ecosystem. Nominations remain open until February 10, 2025, through the official TEHAMA Awards website.

9. Infobip's Automated Fraud Prevention Solution Earns Top Ranking

Infobip, a Croatian unicorn with offices in Dar es Salaam, has received recognition as a leader in AI-driven fraud prevention by Juniper Research.

Its cloud communications platform is particularly relevant for Tanzania’s digital payments scene, where companies are struggling to maintain user trust.

The technology addresses key local challenges through:

• OTP-based fraud prevention in mobile money transactions
• Stonger identity verification for digital financial services
• Protection against emerging cyber threats
• Support for secure cross-border transactions

This recognition strengthens Tanzania's position in implementing advanced security measures for online services, especially as mobile money and digital banking adoption continues to grow.

10. New Social Media Features to Boost Social Media Engagement in Tanzania

Both X (Twiiter) and Threads have rolled out major updates affecting their roughly 4 million users nationwide.

X has expanded its vertical video feed globally. Threads, on the other hand, is introducing post scheduling and markup features.

Platform updates include:

• Vertical video format optimization for mobile users
• Post scheduling up to 75 days in advance
• New markup tools for content enhancement
• Improved content moderation systems

These changes provide new opportunities for:

• Local content creators and digital marketers
• Business engagement through improved visual content
• Scheduled content delivery for effective audience reach
• Increased user interaction through markup tools

The Week Ahead

Watch how the Parliament’s push for AI and cybercrime controls affects ongoing projects like the Tanzanite laptop manufacturing and Kiswahili AI development.

You should also keep an eye on:

• Whether Bolt’s strategy could succeed in a new local market
• Potential winners in the "Innovation in ICT Products or Services" and "Best Use of ICT" categories
• Whether initiatives like the national physical addressing system and the Digital Economy Framework (DEF) are making a difference

That can help you get a clearer picture of where Tanzania’s tech sector is heading and what challenges or opportunities lie ahead.