By Correspondent Farida Ramadhani, Dodoma
Tanzania is stepping up efforts to expand insurance coverage beyond urban centres, targeting farmers, livestock keepers, fishers, small businesses and rural communities as the sector records growth in premiums and employment.
The government has directed the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) to work with industry stakeholders to strengthen public awareness and make insurance products more accessible across the country.
Deputy Minister for Finance Mshamu Ali Munde issued the directive on behalf of Prime Minister Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba during the launch of the 2025 Insurance Market Performance Report in Dodoma.
Munde said broader insurance literacy was essential to increasing participation in the sector, particularly among people who remain unfamiliar with available products, how to access cover and procedures for claiming compensation when risks materialise.
“Insurance education must not be confined to urban areas. It must reach farmers, livestock keepers, fishers, small traders, young people, women, entrepreneurs and rural communities,” he said, emphasising the need to make insurance part of everyday life.
The government also sees the insurance industry as a key partner in implementing Universal Health Insurance (UHI). Munde called for closer collaboration between TIRA, the ministry responsible for health and other relevant institutions to educate citizens about the importance of affordable health protection.
He added that the government would continue strengthening consumer protection and ensuring insurance providers operate fairly and professionally under the applicable laws and regulations.
Premiums and employment rise
Tanzania’s insurance market expanded significantly between 2020 and 2024, reflecting increased demand, wider service availability and growing awareness of risk protection, according to Insurance Commissioner Baghayo Saqware.
Employment in the sector rose from approximately 3,000 to 6,474 over the period, while collected insurance premiums increased from TSh824.3 billion in 2020 to TSh1.015 trillion in 2024.
The growth highlights insurance’s expanding role in the financial services industry, job creation and the protection of households and businesses against financial losses.
Saqware also noted that insurance continued to contribute to public welfare through claims payments and an increased contribution to gross domestic product (GDP).
Digital platforms seen as growth driver
Zanzibar’s Deputy Minister for Finance and Planning, Hamad Bakar Hamad, called on TIRA and insurance providers to widen access through bancassurance, Islamic insurance (Takaful) and digital platforms.
He said these channels could improve accessibility, reduce operating costs and enhance efficiency, while digital technologies could streamline insurance registration, sales, premium payments and claims settlement.
Hamad, however, stressed that digital expansion must go hand in hand with customer data protection, system security and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
He described insurance as an important instrument for strengthening economic resilience, protecting citizens against risks and mobilising long-term resources to support investment. The government’s priority is to build on the sector’s growth by expanding access, improving consumer understanding and ensuring that insurance provides practical, affordable protection to more Tanzanians.
