Ilemela Municipal Council has provided training on public procurement and the use of the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST) to community and entrepreneurship groups benefiting from the council’s 10 per cent loan scheme for youth, women, and people with disabilities.
The training aimed to equip the groups with practical knowledge on how to register in the system, access government tender opportunities, and follow proper online procurement procedures.
The initiative is part of efforts to increase transparency, widen participation, and enable local groups to benefit from public procurement opportunities.
Speaking during the training on behalf of the Municipal Director, the Head of Industry, Trade and Investment Division, Kefa Gembe, said the NeST system has transformed procurement by ensuring fairness, openness, and equal opportunity for all qualified bidders.
He said all government tenders are now published through NeST, allowing every eligible bidder, including community groups, to compete on equal terms.
“All government tenders are now available through the NeST system and are awarded transparently based on qualifications. This is a great opportunity for groups to participate and grow economically,” said Gembe.
He urged the groups to take advantage of the system to improve their businesses and strengthen their economic activities through fair competition in public procurement.
For his part, Ilemela Municipal procurement officer, Nasib Lucas, guided participants on how to register in the NeST system and apply for tenders.
He encouraged them to ensure they are properly registered and to actively look for opportunities that match their qualifications.
“Every group that meets the requirements has a fair chance of winning tenders. Do not assume that opportunities are reserved for a few people. Register, apply, and compete fairly,” said Lucas.
Participants welcomed the training, saying it has changed their perception about government tenders and opened their eyes to new opportunities.
Joely Emanuel Vicent, Chairperson of Bajaj Drivers in Ilemela, and Bi Zakhia Mshana from the Valentine Buswelu group, said they previously believed tenders were only accessible to selected individuals, which discouraged them from applying.
They said the training has given them confidence to participate in government procurement processes and improve their income opportunities.
“This training has changed our mindset. We now understand that we also have a chance if we meet the requirements. It has motivated us to compete fairly and grow economically,” said Bi Zakhia Mshana.
In addition to NeST training, the groups were also educated on how to obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN), the importance of paying taxes and government levies, and their role in supporting national development.
They were also sensitized on the 10 per cent local government loan scheme, which is designed to empower youth, women, and people with disabilities by supporting their economic activities through affordable financing from council internal revenues.
The council said the initiative is part of its broader strategy to promote economic inclusion, strengthen business skills among grassroots groups, and ensure more citizens benefit from government opportunities in a transparent and fair system.
