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The Tanzanian government is preparing to seize key tea assets owned by MeTL and its affiliate Wakulima Tea Company, escalating a political and financial standoff with Mohammed “Mo” Dewji, Africa’s youngest billionaire and head of the MeTL conglomerate. The move comes just weeks before a national election and amid claims of underinvestment and alleged abandonment of portions of MeTL’s portfolio.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan announced the seizure, citing “neglect” and warning that repossession would proceed if MeTL did not rectify its performance. The targeted assets include the Rungwe tea estate in Mbeya region, and processing facilities linked to Wakulima. MeTL and Wakulima have reportedly halted processing operations in some plants, heightening the urgency of government intervention.
A populist flashpoint ahead of elections
Observers say the decision has strong political undertones. With elections scheduled for October 29, the move to publicly take on one of Tanzania’s most visible tycoons resonates as more than a business dispute: it’s a signal that incumbents will flex muscle against powerful private actors. Dewji, once allied with the ruling party, has increasingly positioned himself as an independent business magnate.
Critics argue the government is weaponizing state power to pressure or bring into line those who wield influence. For many farmers and workers in the regions tied to MeTL’s tea operations, the seizure order has stirred fear over job losses, disruptions in supply chains and uncertainty about compensation.
Who is Mo Dewji — his empire under threat
Mohammed Dewji, now in his early 50s, inherited leadership of MeTL from his father and has since expanded it into one of East Africa’s most diversified conglomerates. MeTL spans food and beverages, agriculture, energy, textiles, logistics and manufacturing, with a presence across multiple African markets.
Known as “Mo,” Dewji has been celebrated as a rare African billionaire who remains deeply involved in operations. He also has become notable in philanthropy, encouraging investment in underprivileged communities and advocating for job creation across the continent. But this chapter may mark one of his stiffest tests.
The standoff raises immediate risk for MeTL’s legacy operations in tea, a business long held as an anchor of MeTL’s East African identity. The possible valuation of the assets in dispute and the cost of compensation or forced acquisitions loom large.
What’s at stake and what could follow
If the government proceeds with the seizure, it would mark a rare instance of state expropriation in Tanzania’s agriculture sector, placing financial institutions, suppliers and lenders in an awkward position. The move could chill investor sentiment not only in tea but in broader agribusiness, where capital expenditure is vital.
MeTL is expected to weigh legal action, including possible compensation claims or taking the dispute to an international arbitration forum. But in a climate where politics and business often intertwine, the ground is unpredictable.
For Dewji, the next few weeks could determine not just whether he loses parts of his empire, but whether Tanzania’s private sector remains susceptible to public pressure. If enforcement goes through without compromise, it sets a precedent: even Africa’s highest-profile entrepreneurs must yield to sovereign will.
