20 Nov 2013

The Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) on November 18 conducted its first ever media capacity building workshop on public procurement and assert disposal.

The objective of the workshop was to ensure that the media was empowered to properly investigate and report with enhanced accuracy, and with good appreciation of the general requirements of the legislation, processes and procedures related to public procurement and asset disposal in Botswana.

The workshop covered, among others, the mandate of the PPADB, procurement cycle, anti-corruption measures in procurement, citizen economic empowerment, evaluation and adjudication of tenders and contractor registration.

Speaking at the workshop, PPADB executive chairperson, Ms Bridget John said there was need to empower media practitioners and enhance their knowledge of public procurement in order that they report with a great understanding.

She said an empowered media investigates any practices in public procurement that may seem to work against the public interest, and exerts positive pressure on relevant stakeholders to uphold the principles of competition, fairness, transparency, accountability and value for money, for the good of the nation.

“We believe the media is the most effective vehicle for disseminating information and for public education on tenders hence, the need for media engagement,” said John.

On the other hand, the executive chairperson noted that public procurement played a pivotal role in economic development, job creation, wealth distribution, asset acquisition, service provision and development of competitive entrepreneurship to achieve value for money.

Furthermore, Ms John said good procurement practices enhanced good governance in the use of public resources to drive the national agenda of development. She therefore, said that public procurement demanded accountability and transparency, hence it was necessary to build awareness and promote education on the subject. ENDS