How to Buy Shares on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange

Yes. DSE trading requires a licensed market route. A Licensed Dealing Member (LDM); a stockbroking firm authorised by the exchange and regulated by the Capital Markets and Securities Authority (CMSA); can carry an order to market. The DSE also says its MTP mobile app can be used to open a CDS account and place an order. Always confirm the provider's current licence in the official registers before sending money.

A CDS (Central Depository System) account is the electronic account that holds your shares; the equivalent of a securities wallet. You open one through your chosen broker:

1. Request the CDS account-opening form from a licensed broker.
2. Complete the KYC ("Know Your Client") form; it asks for your ID (passport or national ID; a driver's licence may be accepted), your address, and your preferences for receiving dividends and paying fees.
3. Return the forms with your ID documents. The broker assigns you a CDS account number.

The DSE says its MTP mobile app can be used to open a CDS account and place an order. A non-resident should still ask the chosen provider which identity, certified-document, tax, banking and funding requirements apply before sending money. Digital access does not guarantee that every provider or instrument is available to every investor.

Yes, subject to the governing rules and the approved intermediary's operational requirements. Government Notice No. 206, published on 17 July 2026, says a non-resident may purchase, sell or transfer securities in Tanzania in accordance with the Foreign Exchange Regulations.

The Bank of Tanzania's notice dated 6 August 2026 specifically confirms that all non-resident investors may invest in Tanzanian government Treasury bills and bonds through approved Central Depository Participants. The amendment establishes legal eligibility; it does not by itself open an account, complete KYC, make every instrument available or settle a transaction. Read our 2026 non-resident access explainer for the rule boundary.

For most brokers, you simply email your broker your trade instruction; the share (ticker), the number of shares, and any price limit. The broker executes the order on the DSE and sends you a contract note confirming the price, commission and fees. Some brokers also offer online or app-based ordering.

The DSE's current FAQ states that maximum total brokerage fees are 2.3768% of the consideration. That figure includes the charges described by the exchange; ask the broker for a current, itemised quote before placing an order because fees and taxes can change.

The DSE's current FAQ states that equity transactions settle electronically through the CDS on T+3; three business days after the trade date. Other instruments and provider processes may follow different timetables, so confirm the settlement date on the contract note. Settled shares sit in the CDS account, and declared dividends follow the registered payment instructions.

The DSE is a thinner market than large global exchanges. Outside the banking counters, daily volumes can be light, and block trades drive much of the index movement. That means large orders can move the price, and some shares trade infrequently; worth understanding before you place an order. See our DSE equities board for liquidity context on each listed name.