Food vendors in Tanzania are expected to gain from a new government initiative aimed at improving their working conditions and integrating them more effectively into the formal economy.

The plan, introduced under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, focuses on upgrading infrastructure, including designated vending areas and improved market facilities. Officials say the move is designed to create a more organised and safer environment for small-scale traders.

Street vending has become a major source of income in Tanzania, particularly among youth and women, as urbanisation and limited formal employment opportunities push more people into informal businesses.

Authorities say formalising the sector will not only improve livelihoods but also strengthen regulation, hygiene standards and access to services such as clean energy and financing.

The initiative is also expected to reduce long-standing conflicts between vendors and local authorities over space and compliance with regulations, which have often disrupted business operations.

However, analysts note that success will depend on implementation. Past efforts to reorganise informal traders have faced resistance, particularly where relocation or new rules affected daily earnings.

The government maintains that the reforms are intended to support—not restrict—vendors, while also ensuring cities remain orderly and economically productive.

If effectively executed, the plan could mark a shift in how Tanzania manages its informal sector, turning street vending from a survival activity into a more structured and sustainable part of the urban economy.