By Costantine Muganyizi
Tanzania Breweries Plc (TBL) has turned to one of its longest-serving directors to steer the company’s board, appointing Ambassador Ami Mpungwe as Chairman in a move that underscores continuity, experienced governance and confidence in the brewer’s growth trajectory.
Mr Mpungwe was elected Chairman at the company’s 53rd Board meeting held on July 4, 2026, succeeding the late Leonard Mususa, who served as Chairman for seven years until his death on May 30, 2026.
The appointment carries particular significance because Ambassador Mpungwe has been a member of the TBL Board since 2001, giving him more than two decades of institutional knowledge of the company and its evolution.
His connection with TBL, however, goes beyond boardroom experience. As Tanzania’s first High Commissioner to South Africa, Mpungwe played a personal role in the economic diplomacy that helped bring SABMiller’s investment into Tanzania in the 1990s.
TBL says his return to the chair brings that history “full circle”, placing the company’s governance in the hands of one of the figures associated with the foundations of its modern growth.
The leadership transition comes as TBL enters the new phase from a position of strong financial performance. The company reported a 13 percent increase in revenue and a 35 percent rise in operating profit in 2025, attributing the performance to strong demand across its beer and spirits portfolio, disciplined cost management and continued investment in brands and distribution.
For TBL Managing Director Michelle Kilpin, Ambassador Mpungwe’s appointment provides reassurance to investors and other stakeholders that the leadership transition will not disrupt the company’s strategic direction.
“His appointment as Chairman gives our shareholders, our employees and our partners real confidence that TBL’s governance remains in experienced hands, and that our direction and our commitments to Tanzania continue without interruption,” Ms Kilpin said.
The company is also positioning its business contribution in terms that extend beyond its financial results.
TBL works with more than 2,200 smallholder farmers, who are financially included through its partnership with CRDB Bank. Its retailer development programme reaches more than 28,000 retailers and over 364,000 beneficiaries across Tanzania.
The brewer has also deepened its investment in local agricultural and industrial value chains through the Kilimanjaro Malting Plant, an TSh 88.4 billion investment in local malting capacity that completed its first full year of operations in 2025. The facility is expected to strengthen the company’s local sourcing and contribution to Tanzania’s agricultural value chain.
TBL’s Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Neema Temba, said the orderly transition following Mususa’s death demonstrates the strength of the company’s governance framework.
“Ambassador Mpungwe’s long tenure on this Board ensures there is no discontinuity in oversight, only continuity of purpose,” Ms Temba said.
Ms Mususa’s contribution was also recognised by the company in the presser announcing the new chair appointment, which described him as a respected leader known for steady leadership and commitment to good governance. His contribution was honoured during a special session at TBL’s 53rd Annual General Meeting.
Founded in 1933 as Tanganyika Breweries, TBL is Tanzania’s first and oldest brewery and is now part of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer. The company is listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange and operates breweries in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Mbeya, alongside a distillery in Dar es Salaam and seven depots across the country. Against this backdrop, Ambassador’s Mpungwe’s appointment represents more than a change at the top of the board. It places TBL’s next phase in the hands of a leader with a long institutional memory of the company, as the brewer seeks to sustain growth while deepening its contribution to Tanzania’s agricultural, retail and industrial value chains.
