About Us

Introduction

J.W.Ladwa (1977) Ltd. Class One Contractor since 1977. Over the last four decades, the company has executed projects financed by the World Bank, European Union, African Development Bank, USAID, and other Multi-lateral agencies as well as the Government of Tanzania. The company has been lead contractor in the

Tabora, Mbeya, Dodoma, Zanzibar, Mwanza and Pemba Power Stations:
Airport Upgrade, Construction of KIMAFA (the largest hangar facility in SADC Region outside of South Africa);
Morogoro Industrial Park;
Irrigation Projects in Iringa and Ruaha;
Road projects in Burundi, Mtera, Kidatu and other high end civil and engineering work

The company has refocused over the last five years from large infrastructure projects for governments towards building prime real estate projects on turnkey basis and project management providing complete financing solutions. Since 2010, the company has raised USD 500 Million in partnership with international contractors and financial institutions for water projects, infrastructure and transports projects in Tanzania, and the wider SADC Region.

Registered in 1977, J.W.Ladwa (1977) Ltd was the first local Tanzanian company to qualify as a Class I private company. The company’s very first project was building a bridge of 100 meters connecting Tanzania and Malawi. At the time, the World Bank and the Swedish consultants, SWECO, discouraged the Tanzanian Government from promoting a Tanzanian company to be the main contractor as the company had little prior experience in the industry at large - let alone from building bridges. The President of Tanzania at the time, Mwalimu Nyerere, simply said – Then teach them. So the story began of Mr. J.W.Ladwa, who with no formal education, and no capital, started the first class I contractor of Tanzania. Over the next four decades, SWECO, the World Bank and other multilateral and multinational companies, worked with J.W. Ladwa (1977) Ltd within projects valued at over USD 700 Million.

When the company landed its first big job in 1977, JW’s younger brother, CW, decided to leave school at the age of 16, and join the company. With the little capital they had managed to acquire through the building of the bridge, they then sent their third brother, DW, to become a Civil Engineer in the United Kingdom.

The story of the three brothers is intimately linked to the development of Tanzania as a nation. By 1982, the Ladwa brothers, JW, CW and DW were building five major power stations, three airports, over 2000 kilometres of road, and national projects including defence and strategic hydro power projects. The tremendous growth of the company during a short timespan was the result of one man’s efforts to disprove the colonial overhang that only foreign companies can build Tanzania, and at the same time to better the lives of his family.

From the harsh environment of interior lands of Tanzania, building power stations, transmission lines and bridges, to the World Bank Offices in Washington, JW was known as the man who could build. And till date, his legacy as the contractor of Tanzania lives on.

With the capital from his construction business, JW expanded into 4 other sectors of the economy. He started a real estate business, motor trade, hotels and land banks. He grew his net worth from 1977 at USD 1 to USD 400 Million in 2014. He celebrated his 50th Wedding Anniversary on 5th December 2014 with his wife and business partner of 50 years, Sushila Ladwa, the 8 children of his own and his brothers, and 9 grandchildren- the family whom he considers his real wealth.

While JW, CW and DW Ladwa all remain involved in the company, the next generation of Ladwa brothers, Bhavesh Ladwa, Aatish Ladwa, Nilesh Ladwa and Jitesh Ladwa have taken over the daily running and management of the company today.