NEW: Govt cracks whip on public procurement abuse

Online Reporter

Government is cracking the whip on corrupt elements within both the public and private sectors bent on abusing public procurement processes, President Mnangagwa has said.

Speaking at the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) Annual Conference held in Harare on Thursday, the President said corruption in public procurement frustrates and delays Government programmes and projects.

To this extent, the gazetting of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (Compliance, Monitoring and Evaluation) Regulations Act is being accelerated to deal with such issues.

“These regulations will introduce administrative penalties against those Public Entities and individuals that are committing administrative misdemeanors with respect to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act,” said President Mnangagwa.

“The Second Republic remains seized with the need to safeguard an effective public procurement framework.

“Hence, I exhort the Procurement Regulatory Authority to lead public procurement by ensuring that the objectives of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act are achieved.”

President Mnangagwa said given the volume of resources expended, public procurement has the ability to demonstrate Government efficiency in the delivery of public goods as well as stimulate production and productivity across all sectors.

“This can be done by ensuring integrity in public procurement, which is essential to the maintenance of citizens’ trust in Government,” he said.

“Following the introduction of the value-for-money concept in public procurement across all public entities and procurement management units, it is fundamental that we begin to gradually see cost effectiveness, adherence to quality standards, durability and the prudent use of national resources.”

President Mnangagwa said the Government has reduced barriers in public procurement to ensure that youths and women can participate and confidently compete in the procurement process.