By Alfred Zacharia
The Public Procurement Appeals Authority (PPAA) says Tanzania’s shift to digital public procurement is making it easier for suppliers to raise complaints and appeals, while cutting down on fraud in the tendering process. This is a key step toward a fairer and more transparent system that benefits businesses and taxpayers across the country.
Nearly 1,000 stakeholders gathered in Arusha from June 13 to 17 for the 2025 Annual Public Procurement Conference.
The event, organised by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), focused on “Digital Public Procurement for Sustainable Development: Growth of Local Companies and Special Groups for Inclusive Economic Growth.”
Speaking on behalf of the PPAA Executive Secretary, Mr. James Sando, Ms. Agnes Sayi, Head of Legal Services at PPAA, said the government’s mandatory shift to electronic procurement through the National Electronic System for Tendering (NeST) has changed how complaints and appeals are handled.
“The new Complaint and Appeal Management Module allows suppliers and procuring entities to submit and track complaints online, saving time and costs,” Ms. Sayi said.
She added that the digital system helps fight fraud by automatically verifying company information and stopping suppliers from submitting false details, a challenge common before digitalisation.
This improvement strengthens trust in Tanzania’s public procurement system, boosts confidence among suppliers, and supports the growth of local businesses, which contributes to the country’s inclusive economic development.