Tanzania urged to turn embassy-owned property abroad into commercial investments
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Deputy Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Kaspar Mmuya says Tanzania's government-owned land and buildings abroad should be developed commercially rather than left idle, speaking during a visit to a 22-storey building under construction in Nairobi.
Tanzania has been urged to transform government-owned land and buildings abroad into revenue-generating investments in a push to lift national income, attract foreign capital and widen economic opportunities.
Deputy Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Kaspar Mmuya made the call on November 6, 2026, during a visit to a 22-storey commercial building under construction that is owned by the Tanzanian Embassy in Kenya. He was accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, James Millya.
Mmuya said government properties managed through Tanzania's embassies should be developed and utilised commercially rather than left idle, noting they could become important sources of revenue through investment and business activity. “It is important for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation to strengthen partnerships with investors and financial institutions to mobilise capital for similar projects across more Tanzanian diplomatic missions,” he said.
The deputy minister said effective use of the country's overseas assets would increase foreign exchange earnings, create new trade opportunities and strengthen economic ties with host nations, while exposing Tanzania to international commercial markets and building its capacity to run ventures beyond its borders.
He commended the ministry for implementing President Samia Suluhu Hassan's economic diplomacy agenda, which seeks to translate international relations into tangible development gains, and praised Tanzania's Ambassador to Kenya, Dr Bernard Kibese, for his role in strengthening bilateral cooperation. Mmuya said the success of diplomacy should be measured not only by friendly relations but by its ability to generate investment, expand trade and raise national revenue.