The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) has uncovered financial and technical irregularities in the renovation projects at Benjamin Mkapa and Uhuru stadiums in Dar es Salaam, as well as the construction of Arusha Stadium. The facilities are being prepared for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
The findings were presented to Parliament in Dodoma on November 3, 2026, by committee member Beng'i Issa, who outlined several shortcomings identified during an inspection of the implementation of the projects.
During its inspection of Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the committee discovered that four electrical control machines (switchgear) had not been installed. It also identified weaknesses in quality control of the work carried out, payments for work that had not been completed, and cases where payments exceeded the actual value of some completed work.
Beyond Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, PAC also identified challenges in the Uhuru and Arusha stadium projects. These included the use of substandard materials, the selection of suppliers whose prices were excessively high, and design flaws that led to increased project costs beyond the initial estimates.
In response to these findings, the committee has urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the identified irregularities, ensure that funds paid contrary to established procedures are recovered and those responsible are held accountable. It also called for corrective measures to address the technical defects identified in the projects.
