Securing Tanzania’s digital future

DAR ES SALAAM: ACCORDING to the latest TCRA report, Tanzania’s communications sector is growing fast. In the three months ending June 2026, mobile subscriptions reached 117 million, that is a 4.5 per cent increase.

Internet subscriptions hit 62.8 million, up by 6.5 per cent. Mobile money accounts climbed to 87 million, a 7.5 per cent rise. Almost 90 per cent of Tanzanians now have access to the internet.

These numbers show that Tanzania is becoming a digital nation. But with more people online, more money moving through phones, and more data being shared, there is a dark side: cybercrime is also on the rise.

The growing threat of cybercrime

The report says that 7,334 fraud at‑ tempts were reported between April and June 2026. That is down from nearly 10,000 in the previous quarter, but it is still a very high number. And these are only the attempts that were reported, many go unnoticed.

Fraud is not spread evenly across the country. The regions with the most fraud attempts are Rukwa (2,495), Morogoro (2,129), Dar es Salaam (1,566), and Mbeya (1,370). In Morogoro’s Kilombero district, police once seized 198 SIM cards that were being used for fraud.

The most dangerous type of fraud is called “SIM swap.” Criminals bribe phone company workers to swap a victim’s SIM card to a new one they control. Then they can receive one‑time passwords (OTPs) sent by banks and mobile money services. Before the victim knows what is happening, their money is gone. These fraud networks some‑ times sell stolen SIM cards to organised crime groups. In a nearby country, such fraud has already cost around1.9 million US dollar.

The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool, but criminals are using it too. According to an international report, more than half of all cyberattacks in Africa are now driven by AI. Criminals use AI to create fake videos, steal identities, and build very believable scam messages.

In Tanzania, criminals only need a few seconds of someone’s voice from social media. They can then copy that voice and pretend to be the person to trick family or friends into sending money. AI makes attacks more frequent, more clever, and harder to stop.

But AI can also help defend us. The government has started using AI to spot and block fraud calls. Between March 2025 and March 2026, more than 60,000 national ID cards linked to fraud were blocked. The Tanzanian AI market is expected to grow from 942 million US dollar in 2025 to 1.6 billion US dollar by 2032. The national budget for 2026/27 also prioritises AI and cybersecurity.

Weaknesses in our defences

Despite these efforts, Tanzania still has gaps in its cybersecurity.

First, there is no specific law that regulates AI use. While the gov‑ ernment has started to set rules for online businesses, AI itself is not yet covered by a clear legal framework.

Second, the Personal Data Pro‑ tection Act (2022) is not fully enforced. Many companies still collect and store personal data without strong safeguards.

Third, banks, phone companies, and police do not share fraud infor‑ mation quickly enough. Criminals use this delay to keep attacking before anyone can stop them.

Fourth, the National Cyberse‑ curity Strategy (2022–2027) and the Cybersecurity Centre need more resources and power to be truly effective.

Recommendations for a safer digital future

To protect Tanzania’s digital growth, we need action on several fronts.

Build AI-powered defences

We should use AI not just to attack, but to defend. The government should set up a national AI security centre that monitors network traffic in real time. AI can spot unusual patterns before a fraud happens and automatically block suspicious activity.

Pass a law for AI

Tanzania needs a specific law that governs how AI is used in communications, finance, and other critical areas. The law should require that all AI systems be tested for safety and must be transparent about how they make decisions. We can learn from other countries that have already started doing this.

Share information faster

We need a single platform where phone companies, banks, and police can instantly share fraud alerts. If a fraud pattern is spotted in one place, everyone should know about it within minutes. This will help stop attacks from spreading.

Strengthen SIM card registration

The good news is that stronger enforcement of SIM registration has already helped – fraud attempts fell by 19% this quarter. But we need to go further. We should use biometric checks (like fingerprints or facial recognition) when people register or swap SIMs. We also need to punish phone company workers who help criminals.

Train more people in cybersecurity and AI

Tanzania has already trained 305 cybersecurity experts, but we need many more. Schools and universities should teach basic digital safety. Ordinary citizens need to know how to recognise scams, protect their passwords, and avoid sharing too much personal information online.

Work with other countries

Cybercrime does not stop at borders. Tanzania should work closely with the East African Community, the African Union, and international bodies like the International Telecommunication Union. We need joint operations, shared intelligence, and common rules so criminals cannot hide in one country while attacking another.

Conclusion

Tanzania’s digital future is bright. With 117 million sub‑ scriptions and rising internet use, the economy is becoming more connected and more efficient. But that growth brings new dangers. Cybercriminals are using AI to become smarter and faster. Our defences must keep pace.

The government is already taking steps – using AI to block fraud, training experts, and strengthening SIM registration. But more needs to be done. We need clear laws, better infor‑ mation sharing, and a national commitment to cybersecurity.

If we act now, we can pro‑ tect our people, our money, and our data. A safe digital Tanzania is not just a dream – it is a goal we can reach with the right tools, partnerships, and determination.