By Our Reporter
Parliament’s Budget Committee has urged the government to amend the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Act to require public institutions to openly advertise projects suitable for private investment, in a move aimed at widening investor participation and strengthening accountability.
Committee chairman Mashimba Ndaki said the proposed reforms should establish clear guidelines and obligations requiring public institutions to actively participate in implementing PPP projects.
He said transparent project announcements would help attract investors, expand private sector involvement in infrastructure development and improve the implementation of projects intended to support economic growth.
The committee also called for penalties against public officials found deliberately obstructing PPP projects for personal interests rather than serving the public, arguing that stronger accountability measures would help create a more predictable investment environment.
The recommendations come as the Ministry of Works prepares to implement five road infrastructure projects through the PPP model, under which the government partners with private investors to finance, develop or operate public infrastructure.
Presenting the ministry’s report, Works Minister Masanja Kadogosa said the projects include the 78.9-kilometre Kibaha–Chalinze road, the 84.9-kilometre Chalinze–Morogoro road and the 218-kilometre Igawa–Songwe–Tunduma road.
The other proposed projects are the 48.9-kilometre Songwe Bypass and a 78.65-kilometre outer ring road around Dar es Salaam.
Kadogosa said the ministry, through its institutions, would continue identifying and advertising other investment opportunities that could be implemented through PPP arrangements, giving private investors more opportunities to participate in the development of the country’s infrastructure.
He added that the ministry would strengthen cooperation with the PPP Centre and other government institutions to improve the preparation and implementation of the projects.
The committee’s proposals place transparency and accountability at the centre of efforts to expand PPP investment. Clear project announcements could help investors identify opportunities and compete to participate, while penalties for officials who obstruct projects could address concerns about decisions being influenced by private interests.
However, the success of the proposed reforms will depend on how the law is amended and enforced, including whether project opportunities are advertised consistently, procurement processes are competitive and responsibilities are clearly defined.
For road users and businesses, the projects could improve transport links and support the movement of people and goods. Their broader benefits will depend on effective implementation, appropriate financing arrangements and safeguards that protect the public interest.