18 Feb 2014

Procurement of poverty eradication supplies is fully compliant with Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) and Local Economic Development Policies, Parliament has been told.

Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said under the Ministry of Agriculture, both small stock and tswana chickens were purchased locally within the districts, while for backyard gardens, one tender was made during the 2012/2013 financial year for the country wide roll out of backyard gardens.

Answering a parliamentary question on Monday, February 17, Minister Masisi said materials were distributed to the districts by different companies that won the tender to supply respective districts and sub-districts.

Mr Masisi said under the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, 18 local companies/individuals were awarded tenders to provide trees for backyard garden nurseries in three districts.

Six individuals/companies in Central District, five in Ngamiland,  seven in North East  were awarded tenders, while one in Southern and two in North West district were awarded tenders to cater for beneficiaries attending training, he said.

He said under the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, the ministry consciously applied the EDD and Local Economic Development Policy when tenders for Poverty Eradication supplies are made.

All tenders for ministry offices in Ghanzi, Tsabong, Kanye, Serowe, Selebi Phikwe, Francistown, Maun and Kasane procure stocks and tent accessories within their locality, he said.

He said equipment such as washing machines, chairs, irons, detergents, vegetable and table clothes and other supplies were procured from local suppliers such as wholesalers, furniture shops supermarkets and local tailors.

Minister Masisi said the Gaborone office started procuring for districts in 2013/14 in cases whereby tenders were above district procurement ceilings as well as non-availability of required supplies within specific districts.He noted that goods supplied by the Gaborone office on behalf of the districts are mainly tents and leather goods.

Mr Masisi said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development through its various districts was compliant to the EDD and Local Economic Development Policy.

The minister was responding to questions from the MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele who wanted the minister to state the extent to which EDD and Local Economic Development Policies were applied when tenders for poverty eradication supplies were made.

He also wanted the minister to provide an annexure for such tenders allocated as at end of September 2013 for the 2011/2012 and 2012/13 financial years.  ENDS