SOUTHERN Zone, a land of cashew plantations, fertile coffee slopes, rich mineral deposits, fishing grounds and Indian Ocean coastlines, is often described as Tanzania’s hidden economic frontier.

Spanning the three regions of Lindi, Mtwara and Ruvuma, the zone is strategically positioned to serve as a gateway to neighbouring Mozambique, Malawi and beyond. From the cashew and sesame fields of Mtwara and Lindi to the fertile coffee and maize plantations of Ruvuma and from the rich fishing grounds of the Indian Ocean to the gas reserves beneath it, the region has everything it takes to power Tanzania’s prosperity.

CCM presidential candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan has now pledged to transform the Southern Zone into a thriving business hub, highlighting mega projects in infrastructure, agriculture, energy, fisheries, social services and trade that she says will reposition the area at the heart of Tanzania’s economic growth.

Samia, who is seeking re-election, has told residents that the time has come to fully unlock this potential through industrialisation, agro-processing, improved infrastructure and social services.
In Ruvuma, Samia pledged to make agriculture the driver of prosperity, promising irrigation schemes, subsidised fertilisers, and better markets. She assured residents that cash crops like coffee would get new processing plants to boost value addition, while maize farmers would benefit from enhanced warehousing and storage facilities. Beyond crops, she also vowed to support livestock keepers with vaccines and modern abattoirs.
On infrastructure, she highlighted the ongoing expansion of the Songea airport and improvements to rural roads, saying these will open Ruvuma to more trade and tourism. With minerals like graphite and uranium present in the region, she assured that careful exploitation would create jobs while protecting the environment.
Residents welcomed the promises. “If coffee factories are built here, our children won’t have to move to Dar or Mbeya to look for work,” said Josephine Haule, a farmer from Peramiho.
In Mtwara, Samia said the government will continue scaling up cashew production with free pesticides, fertilisers and an expanded warehouse receipt system. She also promised to revive cashew factories and expand sesame and pigeon pea markets to strengthen household incomes.
Fishermen were assured of more modern fishing boats and storage facilities, while seaweed farmers will benefit from processing support. She further pledged to strengthen the Mtwara port, expand trade routes into Mozambique and Malawi, and support industries in the region’s gas economy.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa reminded Mtwara residents of the government’s record in infrastructure, including roads, bridges and water projects. “This manifesto is not a promise on paper—it’s a continuation of what you have already seen in your communities,” he said.
In Lindi, Samia placed her biggest emphasis on the much-anticipated $40 billion Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, assuring residents that negotiations with investors are in the final stages. She said the government has worked hard to secure favourable terms that guarantee Tanzanians benefit from the project’s jobs and revenues.
“It has taken time because we wanted to ensure this project delivers what our people deserve. Now we are finalising, and soon this project will take off,” she told a rally in Mchinga. The LNG project is expected to create thousands of jobs and trigger new opportunities for small businesses in the region.
Alongside energy, Samia pledged that her government will provide free sulphur and pesticides to cashew farmers if re-elected, saying she no longer wants to see farmers struggling to access critical inputs.
According to her, the move aims to boost production, increase yields and improve farmers’ incomes. She added that other crops will continue to benefit from subsidised fertiliser and related inputs to ensure increased productivity across the agricultural sector.
“We will bring sulphur, pesticides and other key inputs for cashew farming free of charge. This will enable our farmers to harvest more and transform their livelihoods,” she assured.
She also promised to revive cashew processing factories, construct a fish processing plant, and expand irrigation schemes.
She further unveiled plans to rehabilitate Lindi Airport, build a new airstrip in Lindi South, and expand clean water projects such as the 30bn/- Mchinga scheme covering ten villages. On social services, she pledged more health centres and staff deployment, while electrification and clean energy rollout will continue to cut reliance on charcoal and firewood.
Residents voiced optimism about the pledges. “If the LNG project starts here, our children will not need to migrate to Dar es Salaam for jobs. Lindi will become alive again,” said Bakari Hamad, a trader from Lindi town.
From Ruvuma’s fertile highlands to Mtwara’s cashew belt and Lindi’s gas-rich coast, the southern zone is being promised a future of industry, jobs and growth. CCM leaders accompanying Samia—including Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and Secretary General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro—urged residents to vote in large numbers, insisting that the new manifesto will cement the region’s transformation.
For many residents, the pledges signal long-awaited recognition. As 65-year-old farmer Asha Kombe from Nachongweq put it: “For years we felt forgotten. Now, if all these projects are done, the southern zone will finally stand equal with other regions of Tanzania.”
Ends