Tanzanian entrepreneurs named Commonwealth Young Leaders

Four Tanzanians have been recognized as winners of the Queen Elizabeth II Commonwealth Trust (QECT) 100 Young Leaders Awards 2026. The recipients include Julius Mbungo, Editha Mshiu, Dr. Noely Mapunda, and Suleiman Salum Suleiman.

Julius Mbungo, the founder of technology companies Toolboksi and Spana, attended the awards ceremony at St James’s Palace in London, where he met King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Mbungo’s work focuses on supporting artisans in Tanzania’s informal sector by using technology to connect skilled workers with households and businesses for repair and maintenance services.

The awards recognize individuals aged 18 to 35 who are driving positive change in sectors such as education, employment, environment, food and agriculture, health, and inclusion. This year’s program commemorates the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth and continues her legacy of supporting youth leadership under the patronage of the British monarch.