DODOMA, March 29 -- THE government has directed capital-strong cooperative societies to double their minimum share contribution in the Co-operative Bank of Tanzania from five per cent to 10 per cent by April 30, 2026, in a move aimed at securing majority ownership and strengthening the banks capital base.

Minister for Agriculture, Daniel Chongolo, issued the directive in Dodoma on Friday while closing the inaugural Annual General Meeting of Ushirika Joint Enterprise Limited (UJE), warning that failure to increase investment could weaken cooperative control of the bank.

“We must conduct our business with firm capital foundations. If we do not stand together and push to strengthen the Cooperative Bank, we will not achieve the 51 per...