By Business Insider Reporter, Dodoma
Ministry of Finance has launched a comprehensive review of the Public Procurement Act (Cap. 410), signalling a significant policy shift aimed at aligning the country’s procurement framework with the ambitions of the National Development Vision 2050 (Dira 2050).
The reform process, which brings together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, began with a consultative workshop held in Dodoma.
The session provided a platform for industry players, regulators and government institutions to submit proposals and identify gaps in the existing legal framework.
Opening the workshop, Acting Commissioner for Public Procurement Policy at the Ministry of Finance, Alex Haraba (pictured above), said the review is designed to establish a modern, integrated procurement system that spans the entire supply chain.
He noted that the revised law will cover all critical stages, including needs assessment, procurement planning, acquisition, inspection and acceptance, storage, distribution, and disposal of public assets.
“This review is a strategic step to ensure that all aspects of the supply chain are comprehensively embedded in the new law. The reforms are expected to act as a catalyst for national development, in line with the pillars of Dira 2050, including economic growth, industrialisation, and inclusive and sustainable development,” Haraba said.
The current Public Procurement Act mandates the Ministry of Finance to periodically review and update policies, laws, regulations and guidelines governing procurement and supply management in Tanzania.
According to Mr. Haraba, feedback gathered during the consultation process will undergo rigorous analysis to identify priority reform areas and establish a robust legal foundation capable of supporting long-term national goals.
He emphasised the importance of stakeholder participation, noting that broad-based engagement would be critical in ensuring that the revised law is effective, inclusive and responsive to market realities.
The Ministry has committed to incorporating stakeholder recommendations in subsequent phases of the review.
The workshop, organised by the Ministry’s Public Procurement Policy Department, attracted a wide range of institutions.
Public sector participants included the Planning Commission, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Government Procurement Services Agency, Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board, Public Procurement Appeals Authority and Bank of Tanzania.
Others are State Mining Corporation, Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority, National Economic Empowerment Council, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Tanzania Buildings Agency, Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency, Engineers Registration Board, and Architects and Quantity Surveyors Registration Board.
Private sector stakeholders, including suppliers and service providers such as Jali Motors Ltd, Firebrand Technologies, Primezone Ltd, Dynatech Solution Ltd and Blueberry Travel, also contributed insights on improving the business environment and enhancing private sector participation in public procurement.
Strategic implications
The review comes at a time when Tanzania is intensifying efforts to improve public sector efficiency and unlock private sector-led growth.
A more transparent and integrated procurement system is widely seen as critical to reducing inefficiencies, minimising leakages, and strengthening investor confidence.
By embedding end-to-end supply chain management into procurement law, the government is also seeking to address long-standing challenges related to project delays, cost overruns, and weak contract management.
If successfully implemented, the reforms could position public procurement as a strategic lever for industrial policy, enabling local content development, SME participation, and value addition across key sectors of the economy.
As consultations continue, attention will turn to how effectively stakeholder input is translated into actionable legal reforms. For Tanzania, the stakes are high: a modernised procurement regime could play a pivotal role in delivering the structural transformation envisioned under Dira 2050, while reinforcing fiscal discipline and accountability across public institutions.
