Public enterprises in Tanzania: an examination of the social-legal relationship between public enteprises and the public: 1967-1992.

Public enterprises have dominated the economic and social life of this country for more than three decades. After the trade liberalisation of 1986, and the economic reforms, in 1992, the role of the public enterprises has considerably diminished. This is because of the new approach to economic issues, whereby the State's role in the economy has been decreased. However, during those three decades, public enterprises had a very crucial role to play in the economy. This study examines the relationship between the public enterprises and the public. It examines the legal forms that this relationship took, in particular, whether there were sufficient provisions of law to make the public enterprises accountable. Unfortunately, the law on public enterprises does not contain provisions to enforce accountability. Whereas the Public Corporations Act (1969) mentioned nothing about accountability, the 1992 repeal of the 1969 Act, did mention accountability in very loose terms. The amendment in 1993 finally defined clearly what public corporations were supposed to do and how to achieve that. However, enumerating what was required without providing for what would happen in the event of non-compliance, is to leave the law toothless.