The Tanzanian legal system has evolved largely on the basis of English common law because of British presence in the country from 1919 until independence in 1961. In Zanzibar, the legal system has evolved from both English common law and Islamic law. The legal framework in Tanzania comprises statutes, rules and regulations enacted by Parliament as well as those formulated by other statutory and professional bodies. The Constitution is the fundamental law prevailing over all other legislation and includes a Bill of Rights.

The government of Tanzania published a National PPP Policy in 2009 that recognises the role of the private sector to bring about socio-economic development through investments and to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, quality and outreach of services.

The projects relevant for public-private partnerships (PPPs) are in 'productive and social sectors' including, but not limited to, the following sectors:

  1. agriculture;
  2. infrastructure;
  3. industry and manufacturing;
  4. exploration and mining;
  5. education;
  6. health;
  7. environment and waste management;
  8. information and communication technology;
  9. trade and marketing;
  10. sports, entertainment and recreation;
  11. natural resources and tourism; and
  12. energy.


The Public-Private Partnership (Amendment) Act 2018 (PPP Amendment Act 2018) is now in place to rationalise the PPP framework by merging the two original PPP Units into one PPP Centre, replacing the PPP Technical Committee with the Public-Private Partnership Steering Committee, and deleting the National Investment Steering Committee. The Minister of Finance and Planning is the minister responsible for PPPs and procurement through an open and competitive bidding process (both solicited and unsolicited proposals), and the Minister for Investment prepares specific regulations for unsolicited proposals. Further, the PPP Amendment Act 2018 provides that the Minister of Finance and Planning may exempt procurement of an unsolicited project from the competitive bidding process where it meets the given criteria.

The PPP Regulations 2015 are now in the process of being reviewed and are expected to be gazetted in 2019.

PPPs have been identified as a key tool in aiding development. Major ongoing undertakings include the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit project.


The PPP Act came into effect in 2010 with the PPP Regulations, and there have been various subsequent amendments to the legislation, the latest taking place in 2018. Although the PPP Act was revised in October 2018, the PPP Regulations 2015 are still in the review process.

The PPP Act and PPP Regulations provide for the institutional framework for the implementation of PPP agreements between public- and private-sector entities, and set rules, guidelines and procedures governing, inter alia, PPP procurement, development and implementation. Under the amended PPP Act:

  1. the PPP Centre administers PPPs as a one-stop centre and, for effective discharge of its functions, seek recommendations from the ministries responsible for investment, finance, planning or any other ministry, department or agency; and
  2. the PPP Steering Committee considers and approves PPP projects and agreements.

The Minister of Finance and Planning creates regulations to aid carrying out the provisions of the PPP Act, prescribing:

  1. levying of fees and charges; 
  2. investment opportunities and promotion;
  3. functions of local government authorities under the PPP Act and clear linkages of roles between the implementing ministries and appropriate bodies at the local government;
  4. evaluation, operation and management of projects under the PPP Act;
  5. the management of, and terms and conditions for, accessing the Facilitation Fund;
  6. procedures for procurement of private parties and matters incidental thereto;
  7. the manner in which the empowerment of citizens of Tanzania may be implemented including provision of goods and services by Tanzanian entrepreneurs, training and technology transfer, employment of Tanzanians and corporate social responsibility;
  8. process and procedure for scrutiny and analysis of projects that require provision of government support; and
  9. any other matter in the promotion and furtherance of objectives of this Act.

In addition to the above powers, the Minister of Finance and Planning may also make rules and guidelines for the better implementation of the PPP Act.

Each project requires a feasibility study to demonstrate the PPP shall, among others, be affordable to the contracting authority, provide value for money, and transfer appropriate technical, operational or financial risks to the private party.

The Public Procurement Act and Regulations do not apply to PPPs. The PPP Act and Regulations govern the procurement procedures of the PPPs. PPP projects that relate to natural wealth and resources shall take into account the provisions of the Natural Wealth and Resources (Permanent Sovereignty) Act 2017 and Natural Wealth and Resources Contracts (Review and Re-negotiation of Unconscionable Terms) Act 2017. A Facilitation Fund shall also be set up (see Section VI.i). The PPP Centre functions include:

  1. mobilising resources; 
  2. ensuring that government departments integrate PPP plans;
  3. implementing a fair, transparent, competitive and cost-effective procurement process;
  4. dealing with fiscal risk allocation;
  5. monitoring and evaluate the performance of the PPP projects; and
  6. undertaking research on PPP matters.

The PPP Steering Committee functions include:

  1. reviewing policy, legislation, plans and strategies pertaining to the promotion, facilitation and development of PPPs and to advise the Minister of Finance and Planning accordingly;
  2. advising the Minister of Finance and Planning on matters relating to implementation of the PPP Programme;
  3. considering and approving detailed projects report, selection of preferred bidders, agreements and any amendment to the agreements;
  4. approving allocation of project development funds from the Facilitation Fund or the Treasury;
  5. assigning to the contracting authority's terms and conditions for utilisation of the Facilitation Fund; and
  6. subject to the recommendation made by the PPP Centre, approving feasibility studies, selection of preferred bidder agreements and amendment to agreements.

Both solicited projects (i.e., competitively tendered initiated by the public sector) and unsolicited projects (i.e., initiated by a written proposal from a private party to a contracting authority) are permitted.

PPPs in the energy sector have additional requirements that are set out in more detail in Section IV.

PPPs must endeavour to provide opportunity for empowerment of the citizens of Tanzania. The government has resolved to take measures designed to promote and facilitate economic initiatives aimed at empowering Tanzanians; and has agreed in terms of the National Economic Empowerment Policy 2004 and the National Economic Empowerment Act 2004 that natural resources, trade, agriculture, industry and other economic opportunities must generate wealth, and boost the small and medium enterprise sector, to bring about a sustainable affirmative action and facilitate genuine and positive economic empowerment to the population of Tanzania. It has also stated that economic empowerment is a central means for bringing about economic growth and social justice among Tanzanians that is necessary for the promotion of peace, tranquillity and social stability.


All PPP projects shall be procured through an open and competitive bidding process except for unsolicited projects exempted by the Minister of Finance and Planning having met the following criteria:

  1. the project shall be of priority to the government at the particular time and broadly consistent with the government's strategic objectives;
  2. the private proponent does not require government guarantee or any form of financial support from the government;
  3. the project shall have unique attributes that justify departing from a competitive tender process;
  4. the project is of significant size, scope and requires substantial financing as per conditions provided in the regulations;
  5. the project shall demonstrate value for money, affordability and shall transfer significant risks to the private proponent;
  6. the project has wide social economic benefits including improved services, employment and taxation; and
  7. the proponent commits to bear the cost of undertaking a feasibility study.

All solicited and unsolicited projects shall be procured through an open and competitive bidding process and in a manner prescribed in the PPP Regulations. The current PPP Regulations 2015 specify that for solicited projects, at least two months before the beginning of the budget cycle, each contracting authority will submit to the PPP Centre a list of potential projects to be undertaken in partnership with the private sector. Based on the recommendation of the PPP Centre, the contracting authority may then proceed to conduct a full feasibility study of the project.

For unsolicited projects, upon approval of project concept, the private proponent shall make a commitment to undertake the project by depositing a refundable amount of not exceeding 3 per cent of the estimated cost of the project to be conducted. The private party is required to put forward a project concept to the proposed contracting authority, which may then be forwarded to the PPP Centre for review.

The PPP Regulations 2015 provide for the involvement of local government authorities in small-scale PPPs, these being PPPs whose total project value does not exceed US$20 million (as per the PPP Amendment Act 2018, which reduced this from US$70 million) and that entail an agreement not exceeding a maximum duration of 15 years.

There are additional requirements in respect of PPPs in the energy sector, which include:

  1. the electricity utility, TANESCO, must obtain approval first of the regulator, the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA), before initiation of procurement of any power project;
  2. the application to EWURA must be made for solicited proposals, before releasing the tender and for unsolicited proposals, after TANESCO has accepted the proposer's project concept but before commencing any formal negotiations for a power purchase agreement;
  3. EWURA will evaluate compliance with all required legislation, including the PPP legislation; and
  4. EWURA may nominate a representative to observe the procurement process to be followed by TANESCO.

There are special regulations and a standard power purchase agreement (SPPA) for energy projects of less than 10MW under the recently enacted Electricity (Development of Small Power Projects) Rules 2018.

Wind and solar projects must be solicited proposals (i.e., competitively bid) approved by EWURA. Hydro and biomass projects shall be procured through a letter of intent with an SPPA power buyer.

There are further special rules for projects of less than 1MW (very small power projects), such as no requirement for EWURA approval of the retail tariff, but EWURA may review the tariff if petitioned to do so by 15 per cent of affected households.


A contracting authority can enter into an agreement with the private sector for the performance of functions of the contracting authority.

The contracting authority shall form a multidisciplinary negotiating team with knowledge, skills and experience on the subject matter of the project.

The contract shall cover the following items:

  1. specify the responsibilities and the private party;
  2. specify the relevant financial terms;
  3. ensure for the management of performance of the private party;
  4. provide for undertaking by the contracting authority to the private party in obtaining licences and that may be necessary for the implementation of the project;
  5. provide for the return of assets, if any, to the contracting authority, at the termination or expiry of the contract;
  6. specify the roles and risks undertaken by either party;
  7. provide for the payment to the private party, by way of compensation from a revenue fund charges or fees, collected by the private party from users or customers of the service provided by it;
  8. specify payment of the private party to the contracting authority;
  9. provide for remedies in the event of default by either party;
  10. impose financial management duties on part of the private party, including procedures relating to internal financial control, budgeting, transparency, accountability and reporting;
  11. provide for the termination of the contract in the case of a breach of terms and conditions by either party;
  12. provide for the conditions for the provision of service, where necessary;
  13. provide for the period of execution; and
  14. contain such other information as may be necessary.

The contract shall ensure that:

  1. the private party undertakes to perform a contracting authority's function on behalf of the contracting authority for a specified period;
  2. the private party is liable for the risks arising from the performance of its functions;
  3. the environmental impact assessment certificate has been issued in respect of the project;
  4. government facilities, equipment or other state resources that are necessary for the project are transferred or made available to the private party on a timely basis; and
  5. the public and private assets are clearly specified.

The rights, obligation and controlling interests of the private party in the project shall not be transferred or assigned to a third party without the prior written consent of the contracting authority.

The duration of a contract shall be provided for in the contract and shall not be extended unless:

  1. there is a delay in completion or interruption of operations due to circumstances beyond any party's control;
  2. there was an increase in costs arising from requirements of the PPP Centre or contracting authority that were not foreseen or included in the contract; and
  3. the service is required and the contracting authority has no capacity or immediate intention to take over and run the project.

A violation of these provisions by either of the parties shall render a defaulting party liable for any pecuniary loss incurred by the other party.

i Termination of the agreement

Under the PPP Regulations 2015, parties shall have a right to terminate the project if it fails to fulfil the conditions set out under the project agreement. Any such reasons and resultant compensation are required to be included as provisions in the agreement. Upon such termination, the contracting authority may, pursuant to the PPP Act and Regulations, engage another party.

ii Contract approval

The contracting authority shall ensure that the contract is executed under procedures stipulated and through institutions specified under the PPP Act.

The contract shall be signed by the accounting officer of the contracting authority after it has been considered and approved by, among others, the Office of the Attorney General. The accounting officer shall sign the contract upon fully satisfying him or herself that the contract has complied with the provisions of PPP Act and any other relevant laws. Any person who contravenes these requirements commits an offence.

The accounting officer who has entered into a contract shall take all necessary and reasonable steps to ensure that:

  1. the outsourced activity is effectively and efficiently carried out in accordance with the contract;
  2. any public property that is placed under the control of the private party, in terms of the contract, is appropriately protected against forfeiture, theft, loss, wastage and misuse; and
  3. the contracting authority has adequate contract management and monitoring capacity.

The contract shall be submitted to the Office of the Attorney General for a legal opinion.

iii Contract dispute resolution

The contract shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of mainland Tanzania.

Any dispute arising during the course of the, contract shall be resolved through negotiation, mediation or arbitration and (as per the PPP Amendment Act 2018) in the case of mediation or arbitration, be adjudicated by judicial bodies or other organs established in Tanzania and in accordance with laws of Tanzania.

iv Offences

Any person who commits an offence under:

  1. the PPP Act where any person who commits an offence to which no specific penalty is prescribed shall be liable to a fine of at least 5 million Tanzanian shillings and no more than 50 million Tanzanian shillings in addition to any illicit money gained or to imprisonment for a term of at least three months and no more than three years, or both.
  2. the Electricity (Initiation Power Procurement) Rules 2014 may be liable to a fine from 10 million Tanzanian shillings to 100 million Tanzanian shillings, or imprisonment for a term of up to three years, and this applies to directors, managers or officers of the utility in breach.


i Project development

The Facilitation Fund shall be set up with:

  1. money allocated by Parliament and from development partners, public entities, parastatal organisations and social security funds and funds previously advanced to contracting authorities; and
  2. approval by the PPP Steering Committee.

It will be used for:

  1. financing wholly or partly feasibility studies and other project preparation costs as may be required by a contracting authority;
  2. providing resources to enhance the viability of projects that have high economics benefits that have demonstrated to be of limited financial viability; and
  3. any such other purposes as may be prescribed in the regulations.

ii PPP fees

A PPP contract enables the private party to receive a benefit for performing on behalf of contracting authority function or from utilising the public property, either by way of:

  1. consideration to be paid by the contracting authority, which derives from a revenue fund, or, where the contracting authority is a central government or local government authority, from revenues of such authority;
  2. charges or fees to be collected by a private party or its agent from users or customers; or
  3. a combination of such consideration and such charges or fees.

iii Government support

The PPP Centre shall mobilise government support to PPP projects.

There is a definition of 'contingent liability' of government in the PPP Act but it is not used in the present PPP Act.

For unsolicited projects, a contracting authority shall not conduct a procurement process proposal that requires government financial support.

There is specific legislation relating to the government guarantee of loans, but not for the guarantee of contractual obligations of a contracting authority.

iv Security for lenders

Collateral available in Tanzania includes mortgages over land, fixed charges over assets (including cash at bank), share charges and pledges, assignment by way of security (including the benefit of contracts and receivables) liens and floating charges (together with security interests) and guarantees.

Generally, there is no restriction of foreign ownership or management of companies established in Tanzania except in some highly regulated sectors, such as natural resources, financial and telecoms. Foreign ownership of title to land is not permitted unless the foreign-owned company has a certificate of incentives from the Tanzania Investment Centre, which has approved the project for investment purposes.

Generally, inter-creditor agreements are used by local banks in Tanzania to subordinate debts and to adjust the ranking of secured creditors by way of contractual agreement. The enforceability and operation of these inter-creditor agreements have not to our knowledge been challenged in the courts in Tanzania.

In the case of a company insolvency, preferential debts will be paid as a priority. Preferential debts include specified taxes, specified government rents and specified wages or salaries.

Generally, a security interest is perfected by registration at the Business Licensing Regulatory Authority within 42 days of the date of its creation, otherwise it will be void on the insolvency of the company against the liquidator or administrator, or any creditor of the company. Mortgages must also be registered at the relevant land registry, and some documents should also be registered at the registry of documents. The priority of security interests is generally determined by the date of the document, and the priority of mortgages is generally determined by the date of registration at the relevant land registry, in each case, provided it is registered in time and there is no agreement to the contrary.


Steps are under way to assist PPPs by, for instance, capacity building, more project preparation, viability gap funding and covering other costs necessary for the government to develop PPP projects.

Despite various amendments and revisions to the current PPP legislation and regulations, there remain some gaps and areas that need to be improved to create a solid basis on which a PPP programme can be developed.


PPPs are recognised as an important instrument for the government to attract private investment with a view to providing better public services. The PPP Amendment Act 2018 provides that the Minister of Finance and Planning shall, for the purpose of ensuring investment in PPP projects and in consultation with the minister responsible for investment, prepare programmes for the development and maintenance of a favourable environment for investment through PPP arrangements. It is anticipated that the PPP Regulations 2015 will be amended in 2019.

The outlook for PPPs in Tanzania is improving quickly as steps are taken to clarify and improve the processes and formal relationships between public and private sectors in a clear regulatory framework.


1 Nicholas Zervos is a partner at VELMA Law.