Masisi vows to transform Gov’t procurement system
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For many years government’s procurement system has been viewed by many as a breeding medium for institutionalized corruption as well as an apparatus for looting of public funds by a select few, mostly with certain connections.
Of recent, President Mokgwieetsi Masisi has said – ‘no more’, and vowed to spearhead transformation of government’s procurement system. Government procurement is worth over 14 billion pula annually. This is predominantly administered by Public Procurement & Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) as the body that receives bids, evaluates and allocates tenders. Amongst other goods and services acquired under the government procurement system is infrastructure development, medical and pharmaceutical services.
Bid rigging as well as well as unleveled grounds of competition in doing business with government have also been counted in the list of what is wrong with the system. Masisi, upon ascending to the highest office in the land, highlighted combating corrupt practices within government administration as one of his key deliverables as President of the country.
This Monday, when reviewing his 100 days in office Masisi revealed that his administration was making significant progress in instilling a culture of fair and anticorruption service delivery within the civil employ. The President noted that transformation of the government procurement system was ongoing to create a conducive and enabling environment for every Motswana, regardless of their economic status and political identity an opportunity to do business with government.
President Masisi highlighted that a process was ongoing to restructure government procurement systems in a bid for it to trickle down to the ordinary Batswana. Masisi reiterated that to achieve this, his administration will sponsor and root for relevant legislative frameworks that promote accountability and rule of law. “There cannot be equal opportunities without equality before the law,” he said.
Masisi highlighted that amongst other legislative amendments that he continues to push for was further review of the public procurement and asset disposal act to optimize efficiency and economic impact as well as eliminate loopholes that can act as a window for institutionalized wastage of public funds and national resources.
In a bid to curb political influence and tampering with government bidding and tendering processes, President Masisi underscored that his cabinet ministers will not interfere with public procurement process. “I have directed my public accounting officers to report any Minister who tries to meddle with tenders and asset disposal processes to me because they are not supposed to do so. He added that he will fire any cabinet minister that doesn’t observe this directive.
“We are committed to ensuring calculated and strategic deployment of our national resources in pursuit of broad based multiplied and beneficial effect on the economy and people of Botswana,” he said. Recently the PPADB has been collecting suggestions and stakeholder views towards transforming government goods procurement and assets disposal dealings to improve and realize the much needed efficiency and service delivery in the multibillion pula procurement window. In various forums, transparency and constant evaluations were raised as among the core main values of strategic operations by procurement entities.
The general custodian of public funds, Minister of Finance & Economic development, Kenneth Matambo told procurement stakeholders from Botswana, Mauritius and Kenya at a forum recently that: “I would like to urge procuring entities to take their responsibility and mandate seriously, fast tracked service delivery, openness and diligence should govern the daily proceedings of an economic segment of this magnitude,” said Matambo.
According to Matambo, PPADB handles very sensitive matters that have the potential of crushing the national economy if not handled with utmost professional ethics and etiquettes. “A procuring entity that is well resourced, transparent, evaluates and introspects its procedures and organizational operations from time to time will output a procurement system that inspires public confidence and delivers its government policy objective,” observed Matambo.
PPADB recently has also been making efforts to evolve into ICT and digital means of service delivery. “We have to move into digital procurement systems and we have to capacitate our staff and educate the public about the transformation,” noted then PPADB Executive, Bridget John. John has said the move would reduce issues of vulnerability to corruption and help PPADB to respond to tender queries within a short turnaround time as well as improve public confidence in their service delivery.
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Malawi appeals for help over Cyclone Freddy at PAP
As of yesterday evening, the death toll from the Cyclone in Malawi had risen from the initially reported 190 to 225 in a short period of time, over 20 000 people have been displaced, and the worst of fears are yet to come as the fatalities continue to mount. This was reported by a Malawi Member of Parliament attending the Pan African Parliament session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon Steven Mikiya.
Mikiya was giving a statement on behalf of Malawi as the ongoing Pan African Parliament in South Africa.
Mikiya said the Cyclone has wreaked the most havoc in our country’s Southern Region. “The Southern Region, has been hardest hit with widespread heavy rains and strong winds. This caused a rapid rise in water levels and subsequent flooding. Meanwhile, power supply has been disrupted, roads blocked off and rendered impassable and mudslides have also been widely reported,” he said.
He made a special appeal to the PAP: “Where I come from, there is a parable which I would like to share with you which says, “mzako weniweni umamudziwa panthawi ya mavuto.” Simply put, a friend in need is a friend indeed or put loosely, a person who helps at a difficult time is a friend you can rely on.”
Mikiya continued: “Yes! Misfortune has knocked on our door and left in its wake a trail of death and destruction that may take years to fully recover from. However, amidst these difficulties, I have every reason to believe that sometimes when you are in a dark place and think you have been buried, you have actually been planted. My belief, Mr. President, arises out of my faith in this gathering and out of the conviction that it is not coincidental that Cyclone Freddy hit Malawi and Mozambique while the delegations of both countries are here.”
According to Mikiya, the level of destruction, the loss of life, property and the decimation of the entire fabric of established communities has been unprecedented. He noted that all this, is coming at a time when Malawi was starting to show signs of recovery from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that also came hard on the heels of Cyclone Ana and Cyclone Gombe that left a similar trail of devastation and destruction in Malawi and neighbouring countries.
As of Sunday, this week, from the 12th of March, Malawi and Mozambique have been facing the devastating effects of Cyclone Freddy that made a landfall over Mozambique on Saturday the 11th and reached Malawi by Sunday the 12th of March.
The Malawi legislator said he has absolute faith in the Pan African Parliament, which he described as “a league of nations brought together by a shared ancestry, history, identity as well as our beloved continent which we inhabit”.
Meanwhile, Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared a State of Disaster in the affected areas effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
Mikiya appealed to the Pan African Parliament drawing “positive” inspiration from Europe which rallied around Turkey after the destructive earthquakes to bring the much-needed relief and humanitarian aid to the people of Turkey.
He said Africa should demonstrate to the world that the African Union and its Organs are not mere talk shows, but effective institutions which stand up when it matters most.
“Alone, it may take us a lifetime to fully recover, but together, in the Pan-Africanist spirit of Ubuntu, our lives and livelihoods will return to a semblance of normality in record time. This is the time to live by our operative mantra, “One Africa, One Voice.” Mikiya concluded.