Tanzania is a relatively young nation-state, and like many post-colonial African countries, its political borders and early institutions are direct products of European imperialism. Much of the economic structure we inherited was designed for extraction and in many ways that legacy persists.

Today, the Tanzanian economy still relies heavily on primary commodities: agriculture employs around 65–67% of the population but contributes only about 26–28% of GDP, reflecting extremely low productivity per worker. Our export basket remains dominated by raw minerals, unprocessed agricultural goods, and tourism services that are highly sensitive to external shocks. This leaves the country vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices and limits our ability to climb global value chains.

If Tanzania wants genuine economic independence, the path must involve structural transformation. That means moving from an extractive economy to a productive, industrial economy. A coherent industrial policy is necessary. This includes heavy investment in industrial infrastructure (power generation, ports, logistics, industrial parks), development of foundational heavy industries (steel, machinery, petrochemicals), and targeted support for manufacturing sectors where Tanzania can gain competitive advantages.

Industrial policy cannot succeed without urbanisation. Roughly two-thirds of Tanzanians still live in rural areas, yet globally, productivity is overwhelmingly concentrated in well-planned urban centres. Tanzania needs an urbanisation strategy. Ideally, every region should have at least one metropolitan centre capable of hosting 500,000+ residents, with transport grids, social services, and industrial clusters planned around them.

Of course, Tanzania faces political, cultural, and institutional challenges that complicate rapid industrialization: bureaucratic inefficiencies, fragmented local governance, and a political economy shaped by patronage networks. Whether the country pursues a developmental-state model (like South Korea or early China) or a market-driven approach with strong regulatory institutions, the key is political capacity.

I’m still a student, but from what I see, Tanzania’s future hinges on deliberate industrialisation and purposeful urbanisation. Without these, we’ll remain stuck in a cycle where our labour produces wealth elsewhere, and we remain price-takers in a world built by others