adminPamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE government is reforming its procurement system to modernise its operations and increase its capacity to enhance efficiency and accountability, a top government official has said.Speaking at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) yesterday, the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Ray Ndhlukula said the reform process was expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He said the reforms were necessitated by developments such as the enactment of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) procurement directives, the implementation of the e-government programme as well as development of the procurement profession in the region.
He said the main goal of the reform process was to decentralise the procurement of goods and services to ministries, parastatals and State Enterprises (SEPs) including local authorities so as to allow the State Procurement Board (SPB) to perform a monitoring and evaluation function.
“We’re working on state procurement reforms so that we’ve a credible and robust public procurement system that is underpinned by good governance and accountability in the management of public resources while improving service delivery,” said Ndhlukula.
He said the government, with the assistance of development partners, identified gaps in the institutional and legislative framework, which if addressed, would improve the procurement system.
“The reform process is championed by the Office of the President and Cabinet and is being done in the context of accelerated implementation of the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, which is emphasising improved public sector performance and delivery of tangible results to the people.
“Furthermore, the new constitution requires that there be an enactment of a new Public Procurement Law,” said Ndhlukula.
He said a special committee chaired by the Office of the President and Cabinet had been constituted to spearhead the reform process.
“The committee has managed to develop a framework for technical and financial support and this framework was submitted to the World Bank for consideration.
“Two consultative workshops will be held in Harare and Bulawayo to get more input to enrich the draft white paper on procurement reforms. The process will also obtain input from the citizens, academia, the private sector, churches and other civil society organisations,” said Ndhlukula.
He said the government was also in the process of recruiting a technical expert to assist and advise on the reform process.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter