The role of law in economic empowerment in tanzania: a case study of the business sector regime

This thesis looks at the role of law in creating conducive environment for enabling participation of Tanzanian citizens in economic development in the country. The research employed a range of methods and techniques in order to gather information. The methods include documentary review, field research and observation. The employed techniques include questionnaires, interviews both structured and unstructured. Under certain circumstances a combination of both was adopted. The major approach that was used is qualitative but in some cases quantitative approach was employed to get the needed statistics. The thesis established that law under the rights-based approach is vital in bringing about economic development as development under this approach is deemed to be an entitlement. With this approach, participation of the people in economic development is crucial. Such participation has to manifest in business facilitation, preferences in privatization, credit availability and employment creation and protection. The State has however failed to enact laws that provide for people participation in economic development especially of the unprivileged majority to participate and benefit from economic development opportunities. The liberalization era mainly targets foreign investors leaving local investors / enterprises struggling. The privatization policy failed to target local investors. The existing business formalization procedure, credit procedures fail to provide favourable environment for citizens to excel in business investments. There is poor effort on job creation and protection. These shortfalls lie on the failure of the State to assume its rightful role in economic empowerment of the people.