Tanzania orders audit of investment lands to penalize idle plots

Tanzania’s Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, Dr. Leonard Akwilapo, has ordered regional land commissioners to conduct audits of land allocated for investment. The directive aims to identify investors who have acquired land without developing it, violating the terms of their ownership.

During a visit to the KAMAKA Modern Industrial Park and Gain Company Limited in the Kibaha District of the Pwani Region, Dr. Akwilapo stated that legal action will be taken against those failing to meet development requirements. For local investors, consequences may include the revocation of land ownership, while the ministry will coordinate with relevant institutions, such as TIC, to address issues involving foreign investors.

The government intends to prevent land from remaining idle, which has led to public complaints and land disputes. Additionally, the Minister addressed concerns regarding foreign investors purchasing plots directly from citizens, a practice that can cause industrial and residential areas to overlap improperly. To support economic activity, the government has already issued 600 title deeds to facilitate production and other economic ventures.