PPAA empowers contractors on procure fairness
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Public Procurement Appeals Authority (PPAA) has called on contractors to challenge unfair practices and procurement irregularities, amid concerns that delayed payments on government projects are pushing local firms into financial distress and, in some cases, out of business.
PPAA Head of Legal Services Agnes Sayi said the law gives contractors and other bidders avenues to defend their rights when procurement processes fail to meet legal and contractual requirements.
She made the call over the weekend at a 2026 consultative meeting with stakeholders in the construction industry organised by the Contractors Registration Board (CRB) in Dar es Salaam.
“A fair environment in the public procurement process is a framework that ensures all participants are treated equally, compete under the same conditions, and that all decisions are made in accordance with the law, regulations and the provisions of the tender documents,” Sayi said.
She said contractors should view public procurement not simply as a process for awarding contracts, but as an important channel through which the government creates jobs, supports local businesses and ensures value for money in the use of public funds.
Sayi said decisions by PPAA showed that enforcing fairness in procurement could strengthen accountability among procuring entities while giving private-sector players greater confidence to compete for government projects.
“Through its jurisprudence and analysis of decisions, PPAA has continued to build a system that protects the rights of tender participants, strengthens accountability among procuring entities and increases the confidence of the private sector to participate in development projects,” she said.
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She urged contractors, consultants and procuring entities to comply with procurement laws and regulations, saying a competitive and transparent system was essential to implementing the National Development Vision 2050.
The call came as contractors raised concerns over contract conditions and delayed payments that they said were putting businesses under financial strain. Architect Steven Masangia of Ebenezer Architects Ltd said some provisions in Special Conditions of Contract (SCC) had placed contractors under significant financial pressure, with some struggling to survive.
“Contractors are not paid interest on delayed payments, which has had an adverse economic impact on us. We should be paid within the time stipulated in the contract to enable us to implement contracts effectively,” he said.
Masangia also called on PPAA to continue educating bidders and contractors on the difference between appeals against procurement decisions and disputes that arise after a contract has been awarded and implementation begins.
About 1,000 stakeholders attended the consultative meeting, held under the theme: “Vision 2050: Opportunities and Responsibilities of Contractors in the Construction of Sustainable Infrastructure.”
