In Tanzania, the government functions through various specialized bodies including authorities, commissions, councils, and agencies, each playing distinct but complementary roles in national development and governance. Authorities are regulatory bodies tasked with overseeing specific sectors such as taxation, transport, energy, or communications, ensuring compliance with laws, fair practices, and efficient service delivery. Commissions are often constitutional or statutory bodies that perform regulatory, oversight, or advisory roles in areas like elections, university accreditation, or ethical standards, acting independently to uphold fairness and transparency. Councils typically serve as professional or sectoral governing bodies responsible for setting standards, registering practitioners, and promoting best practices within disciplines like language, arts, or surveying. Meanwhile, agencies are government-run entities or semi-autonomous bodies focused on implementation of policies, research, service provision, or development projects in areas such as agriculture, science and technology, or postal services. Together, these bodies provide the institutional framework that supports good governance, economic growth, public welfare, and sectoral development in Tanzania.

Authorities, commissions, councils, and agencies in Tanzania

🏛️ A. Regulatory Authorities

✅ 1. Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA)

✅ 2. Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA)

  • Mandate: Regulates public procurement processes, sets standards, oversees tender awards.

  • Offices: Dar es Salaam (HQ) and zonal offices in Dodoma, Arusha, Mbeya, Mwanza, Tabora, Mtwara.

  • Website: www.ppra.go.tz ppra.go.tz

✅ 3. Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA)

  • Mandate: Licenses air services, regulates flight safety, personnel licensing.

  • HQ: Aviation House, Dar es Salaam.

  • Website: www.tcaa.go.tz tcaa.go.tz

✅ 4. Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA)

✅ 5. Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA)

✅ 6. Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Authority (PURA)

  • Mandate: Regulates upstream petroleum sector (exploration, production), ensures compliance.

  • Leadership: CEO Eng. Charles Sangweni.

  • Website: www.pura.go.tz pura.go.tz

✅ 7. Zanzibar Utilities Regulatory Authority (ZURA)

⚖️ B. Commissions

✅ 1. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC/NEC)

  • Mandate: Oversees voter registration, national elections, demarcation of boundaries.

  • Constitutional Body established in 1961.

  • Website: www.inec.go.tz en.wikipedia.org

✅ 2. Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC)

  • Mandate: Regulates peaceful use of ionizing radiation—medical, industrial, research.

  • Established: Atomic Energy Act No. 7 of 2003.

  • Website: www.taec.or.tz

✅ 3. Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU)

✅ 4. Capital Markets and Securities Authority (CMSA)

  • Mandate: Regulates capital markets, securities, and broker activities.

  • Established: Under Capital Markets Act, Cap. 79 (2002).

  • Website: www.cmsa.go.tz cmsa.go.tz

🗣️ C. Councils / National Boards

✅ 1. Tanzania Marine Parks & Reserves Unit (MPRU)

  • Mandate: Manages marine protected areas, enforces conservation and regulated tourism.

  • Established: 1994 under Marine Parks & Reserves Act.

  • Website: www.marineparks.go.tz en.wikipedia.org

✅ 2. Tanzania Food & Drugs Authority (TFDA)

✅ 3. Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS)

  • Mandate: Develops and enforces national standards on goods and services.

  • Website: www.tbs.go.tz (omitted from sources but official)

🏢 D. Government Agencies

✅ 1. Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI)

✅ 2. Agricultural Seed Agency (ASA)

  • Mandate: Produces and distributes certified seeds to farmers nationwide.

  • Website: www.asa.go.tz

✅ 3. Tanzania Commission for Science & Technology (COSTECH)

✅ 4. Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI)

  • Mandate: Conducts agricultural research to improve productivity and sustainability.

  • Website: www.tari.go.tz

✅ 5. Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC)

🧭 Quick Reference Table

Type Entity
Regulatory Authorities TRA, PPRA, TCAA, TAA, LATRA, PURA, ZURA
Commissions INEC/NEC, TAEC, TCU, CMSA
Councils/Units MPRU, TFDA, TBS
Agencies TOSCI, ASA, COSTECH, TARI, TPC