|
Procurement experts have accused government of not consulting and recruiting procurement professionals, saying the habit has led to ordinary people not benefiting from the national budget.
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) executive member and Regional Chair for the North Patrick Sibale warned in an interview that if procurement is not professionally done, government would continue losing lots of money.
Said Sibale: “Everybody is aware that 75 percent of the country’s budget is spent on procurement of goods and services, which if not properly regulated as is the case today, will result into cash drain through irresponsible procurement and corruption.”
He said many people within the CIPS think that one solution to this problem would be the introduction of the Malawi Procurement Authority, which could ensure and regulate professionalism in the procurement process.
Sibale also said it was imperative that government seek professional advice from professional bodies like the CIPS, so that the procurement bill, tabled in Parliament last week, carries guidelines which are compatible to such guidelines as Comesa Procurement guidelines. This, he said, would enable the country benefit from the larger market offered by member states.
He said his association feels that the provisions put in by Parliament in the anticipated Procurement Act, was not enough “unless there is real commitment and professional consultation”.
Sibale said he was also concerned that visible traits of political interference in awarding of contracts had mostly resulted in projects being abandoned before completion.
“Cash drawn or payment made before delivery is very unethical. What Parliament has done by putting in place punitive measures for overspending in ministries is like putting a bridge sign post on a river which does not have a bridge — construct the bridge first and fix the sign post later,” said Sibale.
But Deputy Secretary for President and Cabinet, Michael Kamphambe-Nkhoma said Sibale’s concerns were baseless since the CIPS has never made an effort to follow the right channels to take its concerns to government.
He said: “This is a mistake. If he feels his association has real concerns and contribution to make towards issues of procurement, they must table them to the Government Contracting-Out Unit (GCU), which has the powers over all procurement.
Kamphambe-Nkhoma said government has always been committed to ensuring that there is no drain of public resources through improper procurement, hence the new bill on procurement.
He said: “Government has always been transparent on those issues, that is why you always see tenders advertised in the press. Do not be deceived that there is political manipulation in issues of procurement as alleged by those people. Let us be honest, government is transparent.”
Added Kamphambe-Nkhoma: “I assure you that there are always set and strict procedures in public procurement (in government), even the purchase of a small item like a car tyre follows these set procedures.”
|
