Tanzania’s commercial capital dusts itself off as more businesses reopen

Dar es salaam. The bustling streets of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s vibrant economic hub, are slowly regaining their familiar rhythm, a week after being the epicentre of the most violent electoral and post-electoral chaos in the nation’s modern history.

Following the lifting of a stringent 6 pm curfew and the restoration of internet access, businesses are cautiously reopening their doors, tentatively embarking on the long road to recovery.

The turmoil, which saw widespread protests, clashes with security forces, and significant disruption to daily life, has left an indelible mark on the commercial capital. 

The unrest led to the destruction of property, including the burning of several fuel stations by rioters, and a complete shutdown of economic activity for several days.

However, a tangible sense of cautious optimism now permeates the air.

Business owners and residents alike are hopeful that the city will soon return to a state of normalcy, driven by the collective will to rebuild.

Yet, this optimism is tempered by the hard-learned lessons of the recent past and the immediate economic challenges that the reopening has laid bare.

The imperative for political reform

Industry analysts and economic commentators claim that the electoral chaos has forcefully demonstrated the interconnectedness of politics and economics.

They say the upheaval should impress upon businesses, big and small, the fundamental importance of exerting pressure for genuine political reforms in addition to purely economic ones.

The old adage, ‘politics is everything’, rings truer than ever, they claim.

When the political environment is unstable or lacks integrity, even a thriving economy is vulnerable to being catastrophically derailed.

Stakeholders are now being called upon to work diligently to ensure meaningful political reforms accompany the desired economic stability, in a bid to safeguard the nation’s future prosperity.

Battling economic headwinds

Even as the city emerges from the political storm, it is immediately grappling with significant economic headwinds.

A key challenge facing Dar es Salaam is the spiking in commodity and transport prices.

This surge is largely attributable to disruptions in oil supplies, exacerbated by both the grounding of vehicles and trains during the curfew and the damage to fuel infrastructure, which have led to widespread fuel shortages.

The increased costs of fuel inevitably ripple through the economy, inflating the prices of basic commodities and making transport prohibitively expensive for many.

In a crucial move aimed at mitigating market panic and stabilising the cost of living, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura) intervened.

As is routine, Ewura issued the cap prices for petroleum products across Tanzania Mainland, effective from 12:01 am on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Calming the markets

While the monthly announcement of new fuel cap prices every first Wednesday of the month is standard practice, this particular announcement is seen as a vital step to calm fuel markets and ensure price stability in the wake of the recent disruptions and property damage.

The authority’s swift action is expected to control the upward spiral of prices and reassure both businesses and consumers that stability is being proactively managed.

The coming weeks will be critical for Dar es Salaam.

The return of commerce signals a hopeful step forward, yet the foundation for lasting recovery must be built on more than just economic resilience.

It requires a sustained commitment from all stakeholders, government, private sector, and civil society, to foster a stable political climate and to implement the fundamental reforms necessary to prevent a recurrence of the recent violence.

For the economic heart of Tanzania, the message is clear: stability is a shared responsibility, and the price of political neglect is one the business community can no longer afford to pay.