An Examination on Evolution of Accountability and Transparency Procurement Principles in Mainland Tanzania

Abstract

Like in other African countries, the government of the United Republic of Tanzania has engaged and conducted a good number of procurement reforms. This has been carried out by the government since it attained its independence in 1961. It was an expectation of the public that all reforms that have taken place mainly aimed at ensuring that procurement system become robust and promising. This is because, in its day-to-day business, the government relies entirely on public purchasing in getting various commodities from bidders, both local and internationally. It is unfortunate, however, in all procurement reforms that have carried out by the government, with exception of 2016 procurement reforms, accountability and transparency procurement principles evolution was not given a deserving priority it deserved. Obviously, the 1977 Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, and all other previous Constitutions contained a provision relating to financial matters, yet it is unluckily that as of today, the same 1977 Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania has not a single provision emphasizing or rather indicating on accountability and transparency procurement principles. This evidences clearly that procurement reforms seem to be not fruitful since accountability and transparency procurement principles evolution has slowly emerged and in previous procurement reforms, this was in fact, given little and less attention on various occasions when public procurement laws were reformed. In all procurement reforms, until 2016 procurement reforms that the government did, accountability and transparency procurement principles did not feature in any statute in Mainland Tanzania.