DODOMA – The Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Gerald Mweli, has ordered the immediate reinstatement of 216 employees of the Wakulima Tea Company (WATCO), which operates tea factories in Katumba and Mwakaleli in Rungwe District, Mbeya Region.
The directive came during a meeting in Dodoma on October 21, 2025, with company owners, workers’ representatives, trade union officials, and CRDB Bank representatives, following worker protests over wrongful dismissals.
“We have agreed that there were no valid grounds for the termination of these workers’ employment. Therefore, they must be given letters canceling their dismissal, and the government assures these workers that it stands with them and continues to address their rights,” said Principal Secretary Mweli.
He emphasized that workers should continue with their duties peacefully and that no employee would lose their rightful benefits.
The meeting included key stakeholders such as Mr. Abdulmajid Nsekela, Chairman of the Tanzania Tea Board and CEO of CRDB Bank, and Ms. Beatrice Banzi, Managing Director of the Tanzania Tea Board.
The October 21 gathering was a follow-up to an earlier meeting held on October 13, 2025, which was prompted by worker demonstrations demanding compensation following their dismissal without receiving their legal entitlements.
Payment for Tea Farmers
In a separate development, Mr. Mweli assured tea farmers who sold green tea leaves to the factories but have not yet been paid that the payment process would begin within two weeks.
He directed WATCO management to develop a payment plan for the farmers as soon as possible and to revive the factory operations. The company has also been instructed to present a plan showing its investment needs for potential financing from CRDB Bank, which previously provided loans for the venture.
WATCO operates under a ownership structure where 70% is held by investors and 30% by the farmers themselves.
The case highlights ongoing challenges in Tanzania’s tea sector, where disputes over worker rights and farmer payments have periodically disrupted operations at processing facilities.