The Government has intensified efforts to overhaul Tanzania’s public procurement system as the Ministry of Finance pushes ahead with a review of the Public Procurement Act, Chapter 410, aimed at aligning it with the country’s Development Vision 2050 and improving service delivery across public institutions.
The reforms are expected to strengthen transparency, efficiency and accountability in the management of public resources while modernising procurement and supply chain systems in local governments, schools and health facilities.
The latest phase of the review brought together procurement and supply officers from local government authorities, primary and secondary schools, and health centres during a consultative meeting held at St. Gasper Conference Hall in Dodoma.
Participants were invited to submit recommendations and share operational challenges facing procurement implementation at grassroots level.
Speaking during the closing session on behalf of the Acting Commissioner for the Public Procurement Policy Department in the Ministry of Finance, Assistant Commissioner Ms. Emma Komba said the review is part of broader government reforms intended to build a modern procurement framework capable of supporting Tanzania’s long-term economic ambitions.
She said the proposed amendments seek to integrate all stages of the supply chain into a single comprehensive legal framework, ranging from planning and purchasing to storage, distribution and disposal of public assets.
According to Ms. Komba, the reforms have also been designed to support the priorities outlined in Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050, particularly industrialisation, sustainable economic growth and inclusive development.
“The review of this law is a strategic step towards ensuring that all aspects of the supply chain are fully captured in the new legislation. These reforms will become a catalyst for national development,” she said.
She added that the Ministry of Finance will analyse all recommendations collected during the consultations to identify gaps within the current system and establish a stronger legal and operational framework capable of meeting future development demands.
Analysts say the review comes at a time when the government is increasingly focusing on improving value for money in public spending while expanding the use of digital systems to reduce delays and strengthen oversight in procurement processes.
The Director of Legal Services at the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), Mr. Paul Kadushi, said the authority will continue strengthening capacity-building programmes for procurement officers and suppliers to ensure smooth implementation of the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST).
He noted that training procurement practitioners remains critical in improving compliance and enhancing efficiency in public procurement management.
“As regulators of public procurement, we have invested heavily in providing education to suppliers and special groups, but there is also a need to continue empowering procurement practitioners so they can execute their responsibilities more effectively,” Mr. Kadushi said.
Under the current law, the Ministry of Finance is mandated to review and update policies, regulations, guidelines and directives governing public procurement and supply management in Tanzania.
The review is expected to play a key role in shaping a procurement system that supports Tanzania’s broader economic transformation agenda while ensuring public institutions operate with greater efficiency and accountability.
