The Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership Centre (PPPC), David Kafulila, has called on academics and policy experts to examine how Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) can be used not only to finance infrastructure but also to manage strategic public assets such as Tanzania's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
Speaking during a public lecture at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) on Friday, Kafulila said PPPs should be viewed as a broader governance and management tool capable of improving the operational efficiency of large-scale public investments.
He cited the SGR as an example, noting that while the railway infrastructure and rolling stock were financed by the government, its day-to-day operations could be undertaken through a partnership with an experienced private operator.
According to him, such an arrangement could help improve efficiency, strengthen commercial performance and reduce the risk of operational losses.
"We have our own SGR, with new locomotives and new coaches. Why shouldn't we partner with a company that can operate it profitably so that, instead of becoming a source of expenditure, it becomes a source of revenue?" Kafulila said.
He emphasised that the proposal should not be viewed as a predetermined policy direction but as an issue deserving rigorous academic and public discussion.
Kafulila urged universities and researchers to contribute evidence-based analysis on the opportunities and risks associated with expanding PPP models to the management of strategic national projects.
He said informed debate would help policymakers determine whether operational partnerships could improve the long-term sustainability of major public investments while safeguarding the public interest.
The public lecture was part of the PPPC's outreach programme aimed at promoting greater understanding of Public-Private Partnerships among students, academics and other stakeholders as Tanzania continues to explore new approaches to financing and managing infrastructure.
