The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has told the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST) will bring a significant solution to delays in payments to tenderers.

Presenting a progress report to the committee on 13 February 2026 at a conference venue within the Parliament premises in Dodoma, PPRA Director General Dennis Simba said the integration of NeST with government payment and budget systems would streamline procurement processes and strengthen financial accountability.

Mr Simba said the system now comprises six key modules: e-registration, e-tendering, e-contract management, e-complaints , e-auction and e-payment (e-payment).

“Through the e-payment module, procuring entities can conduct the entire procurement process within NeST, up to and including payment,” he said. “The system has already been integrated with the government’s payment platforms, and we are finalising its linkage with budget systems. He said no public institution will be able to initiate a procurement process without an approved budget line secured within NeST at the outset.”

He explained that payment delays have often resulted from some public officials initiating procurement processes without safeguarding budget allocations, or reallocating funds while procurement is under way, creating difficulties when payments fall due to tenderers.

However, he noted that a special window will be maintained for emergency procurements, allowing emergency tenders to proceed even if they were not included in the original procurement plan [by adhering to emergency procurement guidelines].

In a further development, Mr Simba said that from March this year, the system will begin issuing “red flag” notifications for tenders that show signs of procedural irregularities. This, he said, will enable PPRA to intervene early and take corrective action, rather than waiting for post-completion audits.

The Deputy Chairperson of the committee, Khalfan Aeshi, commended PPRA for strengthening oversight of public procurement through NeST and urged the authority to intensify public awareness efforts so that more Tanzanians can benefit from available opportunities.

He cited the law, for allocation of 30% of the public procurement budget for special groups which include youth, women, the elderly and people with disabilities, saying its effective implementation could help address unemployment challenges.

Meanwhile, PPRA Board Chairperson Prof. Leonada Mwagike thanked the committee for its guidance and pledged swift implementation of its recommendations to further strengthen oversight of the public procurement sector.