The Director General of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), Mr. Dennis Simba, paid a courtesy visit to the former Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Mizengo Pinda, at his residence in Zuzu, Dodoma, on March 10, 2026.

During the meeting, Mr. Simba briefed the former Prime Minister on the progress made in the public procurement sector following the enactment of the Public Procurement Act of 2023 and the development and rollout of the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST).

Mr. Simba explained that the new procurement law aims to ensure that all Tanzanians, including those without formally registered companies, can benefit from public procurement opportunities as bidders, thereby promoting an inclusive and participatory economy.

“The Public Procurement Act of 2023 was designed to expand access to government procurement opportunities for Tanzanians. Through the local preference framework, procurement opportunities valued at up to TZS 50 billion are reserved exclusively for Tanzanian bidders,” said Mr. Simba.

He further noted that the law also provides a dedicated window for Tanzanians who may not yet have the capacity to establish companies. Under this arrangement, 30 percent of the total public procurement budget, estimated at approximately TZS 5 trillion annually, has been set aside for youth, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, who participate through organized groups.

Mr. Simba also highlighted the transformation brought about by the NeST System, noting that the digital platform has significantly enhanced transparency, accountability, and fairness in public procurement processes while also reducing the time and costs associated with tender procedures.

He added that the system has substantially minimized the use of paper, contributing to environmental protection and lowering administrative costs. In addition, suppliers are no longer required to travel to procuring entities to submit tender documents, as the entire process is conducted electronically.

On his part, the former Prime Minister, Hon. Mizengo Pinda, commended the Government, through PPRA, for the major reforms introduced in the public procurement sector.

He emphasized that more efforts should be directed toward strengthening awareness and capacity-building initiatives for special groups so that more Tanzanians, particularly those at the grassroots and middle-income levels, can benefit from public procurement opportunities.

“The issue of special groups is not the responsibility of a single institution; it is a cross-cutting matter, as you rightly noted. Leaders at all levels, including local government authorities, must understand it well and actively support its implementation. Tanzanians also need proper awareness and motivation, and those who have already secured tenders will serve as inspiration to others,” said Hon. Pinda.

Hon. Pinda also pledged to support ongoing efforts to mobilize and encourage special groups to participate in public procurement opportunities, beginning with awareness initiatives in collaboration with regional leaders in Dodoma.

Since July 1, 2023, special groups have collectively secured public procurement contracts worth more than TZS 37 billion.