adminFarirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
The fate of former employees of the disbanded State Procurement Board, now the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), will be decided once a new board is appointed following the coming into operation of the new Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Asset Act.
This was said by PRAZ acting chief executive officer Mr Nyasha Chizu following concerns raised by former SPB employees about their benefits and future following the disbandment of the SPB. The SPB was established in terms of the now repealed Procurement Act.
“We were never told when or how our terminal benefits were going to be paid, nor were we given any formal communication on our status following the disbandment of the SPB. We were simply told not to report for work after New Year since the SPB would no longer be in existence from then,” said a former employee who declined to be named.
Mr Chizu, however, said it was the prerogative of the PRAZ board to determine the fate of the former SPB employees.
“The new Act, in terms of Section 5, created a Procurement Regulatory Authority that supersedes the SPB. It also establishes a board of the Authority in line with Section 8 that is mandated to run the affairs of the new institution,” he said.
Added Mr Chizu: “In an effort to avert any administrative lapses and in anticipation of the appointment of the new board, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet seconded staff headed by an acting CEO to administer the affairs of the Authority.
“In this regard, no one is yet confirmed as an employee of the PRAZ nor dismissed, since it is the prerogative of the PRAZ Board to decide on the new structure and staffing levels.”
The SPB had 37 employees while 13 were seconded to the new board in acting capacities.
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