Procurement Act welcomed
The newly introduced procurement act finds some favour with a public research body saying the law is solidly founded.
The new Procurement Act has mostly been welcomed by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) which says that it speaks towards transparency and the implementation of a sound procurement system. The remarks were made by IPPR research associate Frederico Links who presented an initial opinion of the act and workings of the new procurement board.
“We have found that the structures put in place meet the requirements. The act speaks towards a sound procurement system and it is very detailed in terms of what should happen. It also makes provisions for structures to report directly to parliament. We find that it speaks to transparency, said Links, as he shared his views on the recently introduced act.
Commenting on transparency issues related to the old tender board, it was a positive indication to him that financial statements would be made public. “The reporting of financial statements is positive compared to the old tender board system. This is a great system if it is actually implemented,” Links said.
While the act appeared good at face value, the proof of its success would be gauged after its implementation. “While it looks good on paper, the proof is in the pudding of its implementation. It will require the input of the private sector. We will be monitoring it to make sure that it works as it is supposed to,” said Links
While the act was generally welcomed by Links, it was concerning to him that there were procurement exemptions related to military purchases and that in his opinion, the appointment of board members was not opened up for public scrutiny. “It is problematic and could become a problem but we will see how it pans out. It will be interesting to see how military exemptions speak to whistleblower protection,” said Links.
“In our view, the appointment of board members was not open - we seem to have fallen short. One of the problems we had was that the public was not given the opportunity to assess whether the people appointed had a track record of integrity,” he added.
Links also said that the finance ministry did not provide the IPPR with transcripts of interviews and résumés which it intended to probe as part of a research paper it was working on.
Dismissing Links's claims, ministry of finance official Penda Iithindi said the recruitment process was opened up for scrutiny and called Links's allegation a knee jerk reaction. Iithindi also said that his ministry had no objection providing the IPPR with information related to the recruitment process.
“The appointments were not done in secrecy. The outcomes of the interview were subjected to a fit and proper procedures, it was a transparent process that took long,” said Iithindi.
Adding her take on the new act, Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry company secretary Charity Mwiya called for an end to lobbying in the procurement process and called on the practice to be criminalised.
“The issue of lobbying should be criminalised. Bidding companies should not be allowed to discuss tenders with procurement board members. It might be difficult to prove but it must be made a rule,” said Mwiya.
OGONE TLHAGE
“We have found that the structures put in place meet the requirements. The act speaks towards a sound procurement system and it is very detailed in terms of what should happen. It also makes provisions for structures to report directly to parliament. We find that it speaks to transparency, said Links, as he shared his views on the recently introduced act.
Commenting on transparency issues related to the old tender board, it was a positive indication to him that financial statements would be made public. “The reporting of financial statements is positive compared to the old tender board system. This is a great system if it is actually implemented,” Links said.
While the act appeared good at face value, the proof of its success would be gauged after its implementation. “While it looks good on paper, the proof is in the pudding of its implementation. It will require the input of the private sector. We will be monitoring it to make sure that it works as it is supposed to,” said Links
While the act was generally welcomed by Links, it was concerning to him that there were procurement exemptions related to military purchases and that in his opinion, the appointment of board members was not opened up for public scrutiny. “It is problematic and could become a problem but we will see how it pans out. It will be interesting to see how military exemptions speak to whistleblower protection,” said Links.
“In our view, the appointment of board members was not open - we seem to have fallen short. One of the problems we had was that the public was not given the opportunity to assess whether the people appointed had a track record of integrity,” he added.
Links also said that the finance ministry did not provide the IPPR with transcripts of interviews and résumés which it intended to probe as part of a research paper it was working on.
Dismissing Links's claims, ministry of finance official Penda Iithindi said the recruitment process was opened up for scrutiny and called Links's allegation a knee jerk reaction. Iithindi also said that his ministry had no objection providing the IPPR with information related to the recruitment process.
“The appointments were not done in secrecy. The outcomes of the interview were subjected to a fit and proper procedures, it was a transparent process that took long,” said Iithindi.
Adding her take on the new act, Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry company secretary Charity Mwiya called for an end to lobbying in the procurement process and called on the practice to be criminalised.
“The issue of lobbying should be criminalised. Bidding companies should not be allowed to discuss tenders with procurement board members. It might be difficult to prove but it must be made a rule,” said Mwiya.
OGONE TLHAGE
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