Tanzania has long been politically stable and has no armed rebel groups, and the MOFCOM guide rates overall security as “fairly good”. But crime has risen in recent years, theft and robbery are common, and Chinese company camps have faced attempted armed robbery. After the October 2025 election, Dar es Salaam and other cities saw large protests and clashes, so watch the political situation.
The main risks for Chinese residents are robbery at homes and camps, street snatching, road accidents, malaria, and inspections or harassment by officials. Travelling in daylight, carrying little cash, securing your premises and keeping your papers in order deal with most of them.
Overall picture and key areas
According to the 2025 MOFCOM guide, the inflow of small arms, more refugees and low employment have pushed crime up and security has deteriorated somewhat. Residents and foreign investors can legally hold firearms after approval by the local residents’ committee, the police and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Dar es Salaam: where most Chinese live, and one of the main sites of the 2025 post-election protests. In the early hours of 25 May 2020 an attempted armed robbery near Coca-Cola Road in Mwenge led to a gunfight in which police killed seven suspects; Chinese residents were not affected (China News Service, 26 May 2020).
- Arusha and Mbeya: also saw clashes between protesters and security forces after the 2025 election.
- Mtwara Region (southern border): militants from northern Mozambique have crossed the border and carried out attacks several times since 2020.
- Kigoma Region (west): in April 2020 robbers tried and failed to rob a Chinese company’s project camp (China News Service, 23 April 2020).
For where Chinese live, see the Chinese community in Tanzania.
After the 2025 election
The 29 October 2025 general election took place under a nationwide internet shutdown and heavy security. Large protests followed in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mbeya; the government imposed a curfew and an internet blackout that lasted until 3 November. On 11 November the UN said “hundreds” had been killed (International IDEA). Around 1 December 2025 the US Embassy issued an alert ahead of protests planned for 9 December, warning of possible curfews, cancelled Dar es Salaam–Zanzibar ferries, flight disruption and roadblocks, possible searches of electronic devices, and that sharing images or videos that “may cause panic” is a criminal offence in Tanzania (AllAfrica, 1 December 2025).
In practice: stay away from rallies and protests, obey curfews, don’t keep or forward sensitive protest footage on your phone, keep a few days of water, food and cash, and confirm flights by phone before leaving. Tanzania holds general elections every five years.
Common risks for Chinese residents and companies
Robbery at camps, warehouses and homes
Project camps and remote sites of Chinese companies are targets. In 2020 the embassy told companies to strengthen guards and security equipment at camps, improve emergency plans and keep close contact with local government and police. The MOFCOM guide tells companies to include security costs in bids, write security clauses into contracts and buy personal accident insurance for staff abroad.
Inspections and harassment
The MOFCOM guide notes that heavy-handed enforcement and systemic corruption remain problems. Immigration, tax and trade inspections of foreign traders have increased, and in June 2025 a Kariakoo task force named 135 Chinese nationals among foreigners trading illegally. If you are harassed even though your papers are in order, the guide advises using proper or legal channels, avoiding confrontation, not paying bribes, and contacting your company and the embassy. For compliance, see registering a company in Tanzania.
Street crime
The embassy and the MOFCOM guide advise going out in groups in daylight, avoiding going out alone or at night, not hanging around in the street or joining crowds, and not using your phone on the street.
Road accidents
Roads are narrow and in poor condition, speeding is common and serious crashes happen often. Floods wash out roads almost every rainy season, so check conditions before long trips and avoid driving at night.
We did not find documented Tanzanian cases of kidnapping, express kidnapping or fraud targeting Chinese in official sources, so we do not speculate about them.
Cash and currency exchange
- Only US dollar notes printed after 2013 are accepted for exchange.
- The shilling is volatile; avoid changing large sums at once.
- The main licensed bureaus are UNIMONI, POSTA and KADOO; since October 2023 hotels can also apply for exchange licences.
- Don’t leave cash in shops or on sites overnight; move large amounts through banks.
Health risks
Malaria is the leading infectious disease; in 2022 Tanzania accounted for about 4.4% of global malaria deaths. HIV prevalence among people aged 15+ is 4.4% (2022–2023 survey), and tuberculosis, typhoid, yellow fever and cholera also occur. The MOFCOM guide advises insisting on disposable syringes and lancets and avoiding blood transfusions where possible.
Everyday precautions
- Use a professional security company for homes, warehouses and camps, with walls, lighting and CCTV, and check them regularly.
- Vary routes and times for cash runs and staff commutes.
- Carry copies of your passport, work permit and residence permit and keep the originals somewhere safe.
- Save the numbers of the embassy, the mutual aid centre and your chamber of commerce, and follow embassy notices.
- Keep good relations with local staff and follow labour law on pay and dismissal. The embassy’s May 2020 notice specifically mentions this.
Emergency numbers and consular protection
| Purpose | Number |
|---|---|
| Tanzania police, fire, ambulance | 111, 112, 999 |
| Chinese Embassy consular protection | +255-754075128, +255-754874516 |
| Embassy line for Chinese companies | +255-752867562 |
| Chinese Consulate General in Zanzibar (consular protection) | +255-772148768 |
| MFA Global Consular Protection Hotline | +86-10-12308, +86-10-59913991 |
| Tanzania Overseas Chinese Mutual Aid Centre | +255-626-120120 |
These numbers come from the 2025 MOFCOM guide and the embassy’s May 2020 notice; check the latest on the Chinese Embassy website.
In an emergency, call the police first, then report to the embassy and your head office. The embassy can recommend lawyers, interpreters and doctors, visit detained citizens, help notify relatives and issue travel documents to citizens who lost their passports. For what consular protection covers, see consular protection for Chinese citizens abroad; to compare with a neighbour see the Kenya safety guide.
References
- Country Guide for Outward Investment and Cooperation: Tanzania (2025 edition) (PRC Ministry of Commerce, CAITEC and the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, 2025)
- Chinese Embassy in Tanzania reminds Chinese firms to raise security awareness (in Chinese) (China News Service, 23 April 2020)
- Chinese Embassy in Tanzania urges Chinese citizens to strengthen security precautions (in Chinese) (China News Service, 26 May 2020)
- Democracy Tracker: Tanzania, October 2025 (International IDEA, 2025)
- U.S. Issues Security Alert for Tanzania Ahead of Planned Anti-Govt Protests (AllAfrica, 1 December 2025)
- Task force exposes hundreds of illegal foreign-owned shops in Kariakoo (The Citizen (Tanzania), 7 June 2025)
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Tanzania (PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2026)
- Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Zanzibar (PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2026)