Tanzania's Tech Boom
Tanzania's technology sector is one of Africa's fastest-growing, driven by mobile money innovation, fintech startups, and digital transformation across traditional industries. Companies like Selcom, Tigo (MIC Tanzania), and a growing ecosystem of startups are creating developer roles at competitive salaries.
Dar es Salaam is the tech hub, with incubators like Buni Hub, Sahara Ventures, and the COSTECH Innovation Hub nurturing new talent. Arusha is emerging as a secondary hub, particularly for tech serving the tourism and conservation sectors.
Which Technologies to Learn
**Most in-demand in Tanzania:** - **JavaScript/React/Node.js** — the most requested stack for web development roles - **Python** — growing demand for data analysis, automation, and backend development - **Java/Kotlin** — Android development is huge in Tanzania's mobile-first market - **React Native/Flutter** — cross-platform mobile development pays premium salaries - **SQL and databases** — required for virtually every tech role
**Where to learn:** - **Free:** freeCodeCamp, The Odin Project, Codecademy (free tier) - **Affordable:** Udemy courses (TZS 25,000-50,000), Coursera (financial aid available) - **Local bootcamps:** Several Dar es Salaam organizations offer coding bootcamps - **University:** UDSM, DIT, and IFM offer computer science programs
**Timeline:** With consistent study (2-3 hours/day), you can be job-ready in 6-12 months through self-study, or 3-6 months through a bootcamp.
Breaking Into the Industry
**Build a portfolio:** Create 3-5 projects that demonstrate your skills. A GitHub profile with active projects is worth more than a certificate alone.
**Contribute to open source:** This builds your reputation and connects you with the global developer community.
**Attend meetups:** Dar es Salaam has regular tech meetups. These are the best places to meet hiring managers informally.
**Start with freelance work:** Platforms like Upwork let you build experience and earn while learning.
**Apply broadly:** Entry-level dev roles on Nafasi are a great starting point. Don't wait until you feel "ready" — most employers expect to train junior developers.
**Expected salaries:** Junior developers start at TZS 800,000-1,500,000/month. With 2-3 years of experience, TZS 2,000,000-4,000,000 is achievable.