The Ascendancy of Administrative Review on Public Procurement Disputes in Tanzania: A Content Analysis of Local Government Authorities

Abstract

Public procurement is a cornerstone of public service delivery, especially at the local government level, and effective dispute resolution mechanisms are vital to ensure integrity and value for money. This study examines the ascendancy of administrative review in resolving public procurement disputes in Tanzania’s Local Government Authorities (LGAs), focusing on Dodoma Region from 2015 to 2024. Using a qualitative content analysis of official reports and oversight documents, the research identifies patterns of ethical compliance, transparency measures, and outcomes of procurement challenges over the past decade. The findings reveal that successive reforms and oversight efforts have significantly improved transparency, accountability, and fairness in public procurement processes. The paper addresses these controversies and situates Tanzania’s experience in a broader regional context, comparing it with other jurisdictions’ approaches to procurement dispute resolution. The study’s implications are far-reaching: practically, it suggests ways to improve procurement outcomes and trust; managerially, it offers guidance for public officials to ensure compliance and accountability; and theoretically, it contributes to the understanding of how administrative law mechanisms can be harnessed to address real-life governance challenges. The paper concludes that while administrative review of procurement disputes in Tanzania’s LGAs has made notable strides in promoting ethical compliance and efficiency, further reforms and capacity-building are needed to resolve outstanding issues and fully realize a transparent, fair, and development-oriented procurement system. Limitations of the research are discussed, and avenues for future research – including comparative studies and on-the-ground assessments of the new e-procurement complaint system – are proposed.