A Dissertation Submitted to Mzumbe University Dar es Salaam Campus College in partial fulfillment for the award of a Masters of Public Administration of Mzumbe UniversityThis study examined the discrepancies between theory and practice of employees’ promotion process in Tanzania Ports Authority. The study was conducted at Tanzania Ports Authority at the Headquarters. The major emphasis was to know if promotion processes implemented at Tanzania Ports Authority are in line with promotion theories, how employees are promoted, the promotion policy of the Tanzania Ports Authority, employees’ satisfaction with the promotion process, alternative measures taken by employees when not promoted, favoritism and nepotism in the promotion process, whether promotion increases efficiency at Tanzania Ports Authority and ways of improving promotion process. The population of the study comprised of the employees of the Tanzania Ports Authority Head office. The sample of 83 was obtained from the population of 277 which is about 29.96% of all employees .The data collection methods used were questionnaire, interview, and documentation so as to know the rules governing promotion process at the Tanzania Ports Authority. Data were collected using research questionnaires and interviews while analysis was done using qualitative and quantitative approaches. The research revealed that Promotion Practices at TPA was not differing with the human resources directorate theories. The theories explain about the basis which should be followed during promotion process. The bases are; seniority and, merit and sometimes combination of both seniority and merit.