Investors will now register their businesses in Tanzania in three days instead of 90 days.
This follows the introduction of a software for the registration of business and companies’ incorporation services in the country.

Until recently, one had to travel to Business Registration Licensing Agency (Brela) offices in Dar es Salaam to register names, incorporate companies and file annual returns as well as change directors or shareholders.

But, now with Corporate and Property Data Profiling systems (CDP and PDP), a software by Mawalla Corporate Services, one can easily register a company online.

Mawalla Group chairman Nyanga Mawalla said the software is a product of seven years of painstaking experiments, hard work and considerable private funding.

Having spent Tsh800 million ($543,850) on the CDP and PDP programmes, Mr Mawalla intends to enter into public private partnership with the Brela.

The proposed PPP will provide business names registration, incorporate companies, statutory corporate management and governance facilities throughout Tanzania at no additional cost to the government.

The PPP will also expedite the implementation of the Business Activities Registration Act No. 14 of 2007.
Mawalla Group proposes to establish countrywide business registration, corporate services and property legalisation.

All business registration and management data posted on the systems from each centre will be immediately accessible to every other registration centre, so that business owners and entrepreneurs wanting to incorporate companies or register business names can be properly advised.

This service will be available both in Kiswahili and English.
Mawalla will charge standard fees that will be kept affordable for applicants from all walks of life.
A total of 80,066 companies have been registered in Tanzania since 1930s, but few pay taxes because there is no official record of their existence.

According to Brela chief executive Estariano Mahingila, the figure is not a guarantee that all registered firms are effectively performing.

Mr Mahingila said that with the CDP and PDP software, these businesses can effectively be brought into the tax net.

“The software can boost Tanzania’s tax base and revenue significantly and additional funds will become available for building infrastructure and taking Tanzanians from a dire poverty to the promised land of prosperity,” he said.

The software will also have an online search system, which is a simplified format to make it easier for people to carry out their enquiries.

The CDP and PDP will provide access for any company information searching, cross-referencing and updating records or information by authorized personnel.

More significantly, the software can also be used by banks as credit reference bureau for accurate information on the financial ability of prospective borrowers and their credit history.

The software will enable financial institutions to make informed decision when granting loans, said an expert in the banking industry.