Tanzania to showcase SACCOS strength at SACCA Congress

DODOMA: TANZANIA will use the 2026 SACCA Congress to showcase the strength of its cooperative sector, attract investment and strengthen SACCOS as a source of finance for farmers, youth, women and small businesses, with the sector circulating more than 2tr/-.

Minister for Agriculture Daniel Chongolo told journalists in Dodoma on Thursday that Tanzania would use the international congress to showcase achievements in the cooperative sector and strengthen SACCOS as a financing vehicle for farmers, youth, women and small businesses.

He said the government also wanted to strengthen systems operated by SACCOS so that members could own and manage financial institutions capable of providing affordable capital for agriculture, livestock keeping, fishing, processing and other economic activities.

The SACCA Congress 2026 will be held from October 11 to 16 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, bringing together more than 1,000 participants from over 40 countries.The congress is expected to be officially opened by Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba.

“People may think SACCOS are small institutions, but in Tanzania they circulate more than 2tr/-. This is significant capital,” Mr Chongolo said.

About 1.9 million Tanzanians currently benefit from SACCOS, demonstrating their importance in expanding financial inclusion.

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Mr Chongolo said the congress would provide a platform for Tanzania to strengthen international cooperation, attract investment and exchange experience on the management and governance of financial cooperatives.

“The event would also promote Tanzania’s tourism attractions, with international participants expected to visit historical sites and experience the country’s culture,” he noted.

The congress will be held under the theme “Building Trust, Driving Transformation: The Future of Financial Cooperatives in Africa,” which seeks to promote trust, innovation and transformation in Africa’s financial cooperative sector.

Mr Chongolo said the congress would go beyond discussions on cooperatives by providing a platform for capacity building, exchange of experience, investment promotion, strengthening financial services and creating economic opportunities.

He said the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, was working with stakeholders to ensure the congress produced lasting benefits for the cooperative sector, citizens and the national economy.

Mr Chongolo invited participants from Tanzania, Africa and other parts of the world to attend the congress, saying it would provide an opportunity to learn, build partnerships and contribute to shared development.

Tanzania Cooperative Development Commission (TCDC) Chief Executive Officer Dr Benson Ndiege said the congress would enable Tanzania to showcase its achievements and strengthen the country’s position in the global cooperative movement.

Dr Benson Ndiege

He said SACCOS had been growing rapidly, creating an opportunity for Tanzanian cooperatives to learn from international experience, particularly in governance and management.

“The congress would feature training sessions and presentations on cooperative management, enabling Tanzanian SACCOS to learn better practices from other countries,” said Dr Ndiege.

He added that Tanzania would use the gathering to present information on the state of its cooperative sector, particularly SACCOS, and strengthen links with international cooperative organisations.

He said stronger international partnerships would help Tanzania’s SACCOS learn and adopt better practices while creating opportunities for the country’s cooperative sector to gain greater recognition globally.

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