25 Oct 2017

Procurement should be expedited without breaking any rules at all levels.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administrations, Ms Kebonye Moepeng said this at the southern region capacity building workshop for district administration tender committees (DATC) at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) recently.

Ms Moepeng said the workshop brought together committee members and DATCs secretaries to share experiences on tender adjudication and award as well as to reflect on achievements and shortcomings that may require either PPADB or the ministry’s intervention.

She said committee members were not only responsible for adjudication and award of tenders at district level, but were also key players in facilitating and enabling development at the local level.

She suggested that principles of good governance, transparency and accountability should always be practiced, as tenders required careful management to avoid negative perceptions of corruption. She added that high levels of professionalism and efficiency in service delivery needed to be executed despite the challenges.

She also urged the committees to identify risks of corruption in tenders and to find ways to mitigate them which would inspire public confidence in DATC and enhancing integrity in the public procurement system.

She urged committees to plan for procurement and adhere to the plans to enhance transparency and accountability in the procurement system with the objective of keeping tenders clean.

“You are the torch bearers of your respective districts and procuring entities are looking up to you to provide guidance and advice,” she added.

She noted that limited transport to conduct site visits, lack of proper accommodation for storage of records as well as inadequate ICT equipment and Internet connectivity to facilitate the work of DATCs were constraints facing committees. However, she said the challenges were receiving attention and would be addressed depending on the availability of funds.

Furthermore, she explained that the ministry would continue to collaborate with other ministries such as transport and communications and BOFINET to ensure appropriate ICT infrastructure was provided.

She advised DATC members to undertake site visits to asses and ensure that tenders were awarded and implemented to completion, adding that procuring entities should be given feedback for action.

She also noted that feedback would help stakeholders, including PPADB and the ministry to gauge the impact of procurement on local development and general service delivery across districts.

PPADB executive chairperson, Ms Bridget John pointed out that if well executed, procurement should be recognised as a strategic function that could save ministries and districts funds and drive efficiencies.

Ms John said the need for checks and balances in procurement were important as it was one way of curbing corruption in tenders.

She urged DATCs to freely interrogate and scrutinise submissions placed before them with the full understanding that their role was not to rubber stamp recommendations for procuring entities. She added that they should execute their mandate with responsibility, dignity and accountability.

She also encouraged the public to report any evidence of impropriety happening in procurement overseen by the PPADB, MTCs and DATCs through the tip off anonymous service managed by Deloitte.

She reminded delegates that they had a responsibility to protect government by upholding the highest standards of integrity while promoting value for money, transparency, efficient and effective services as well as supporting citizen and local businesses. ENDS