28 Jun 2018

Procurement of some food items was decentralised to local authorities in 2016 as a way of promoting local economic development.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi told Parliament on June 27 that decentralisation targeted samp, beans and sorghum, while bread jam, peanut butter and lately eggs, fruits and vegetables were also decentralised.

Dr Venson-Moitoi said shelf life, availability and turn-around time for procurement and distribution were factors taken into consideration in the choice of which products to decentralise.

“The food commodities which are still procured centrally take advantages of economies of scale and avoid food safety risks are sunflower oil, UHT milk, stewed steak, Malutu and Tsabana. This was done on the advice of our main stakeholder on food safety, being Ministry of Health and Wellness,” she said.

She further said the challenge of late food deliveries and food spoilage still affect both centralised and decentralised food commodities.

To address issues of late deliveries and to curb on food spoilage, Dr Venson-Moitoi said the ministry  continued to engage suppliers on regular basis on contractual issues.

She further said supplies would also be made on monthly basis to avoid bulk supply to the already limited warehouses and  in this way, commodities with a short shelf life would not take too long in the warehouses.

Dr Venson-Moitoi further informed Parliament that her ministry ensured that all storage facilities were regularly fumigated as per schedule.

She was responding to Nkange MP, Mr Edwin Batshu, who had wanted to know if the ministry would consider, as a matter of urgency, to decentralise procurement of food commodities to Districts and Sub District Food Resources Depots to avert the current challenges of late deliveries as well as deliveries of expired food commodities. ENDS