28 Aug 2025

Procurement and statistics are not isolated silos but interconnected pillars of governance, accountability and development, Public Procurement Regulator Authority(PPRA), chief executive officer, Ms Tumelo Motsumi has said.

The two entities are to collaborate on research and monitoring activities to inform market intelligence and procurement performance evaluation as well as to build institutional capacity through joint training and knowledge sharing initiatives. 

Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PPRA and Statistics Botswana, she said it represented not only collaborations between the two institutions but also a shared commitment toward national development.

She said the MoU brought together the two entities complementary mandates and provided for collaboration and data collection framework, alignment, capacity building and research, which were all aimed at the country’s development. 

“It allows for the development of official procurement statistics that can strengthen evidence based policy and regulatory decisions,” she said.

The MoU, Ms Motsumi said served to jointly enhance data collection tools, methodology and validation processes. 

Importantly, she said the MoU would facilitate the establishment of a joint working committee to ensure seamless implementation, which will be practical, continues and of mutual benefit. 

She noted that the mechanism reflected on the entities intent to smoothly implement developmental policy geared towards citizenry development. 

She said the collaboration directly contributed to the effectiveness of the Economic Transformation Agenda in alignment with Vision 2036 aspirations of a high income and knowledge-based economy.

Ms Motsumi indicated the MoU was also in support of digitalisation, value chain development and greater accountability in the use of public funds by ensuring that public procurement was timely and well analysed. 

As a background, PPRA was established under the Public Procurement Act of 2021 and mandated to regulate, monitor and enhance efficiency, transparency and fairness within the public procurement system.

She said Statistics Botswana on the one hand was tasked to ensure that data that addressed policy development was credible, comprehensive and in compliance with international standards. 

To execute this mandate effectively, Ms Motsumi said reliable and timely data was crucial adding that Statistics Botswana was keen toward strengthening governance through data driven decision-making.

Additionally, acting statistician general, Dr Lucky Mokgatlhe said the MoU was a milestone in advancing the country’s statistical landscape. 

He said MoU was testament to strengthening institutional collaborations for evidence-based decision making in Botswana stating that public procurement was a critical component in the fabric of any economy.

“Across the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, public procurement expenditure averages 12 per cent as a share of GDP and even larger in many countries, that means the quality of procurement decisions and the evidence base that underpins them directly influence service delivery in health, education and other important sectors,” he said.

He said it was worth noting that data driven procurement promoted competition, value for money, integrity and policy goals such as SMMEs participation and greener purchasing. ENDS