EDITORIAL: Breaking the chains of corruption in public procurement
Public procurement, meant to be a pillar of service delivery, has instead become a playground for greed and self-interest. When opportunities arise to provide essential services to the people, all that ‘tenderpreneurs’ see is a chance to suck government coffers dry.
The welfare of the masses is an afterthought, overshadowed by the relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of public good.
It is encouraging that Swapo has taken decisive steps towards establishing a dedicated procurement court, a much-needed intervention to fast-track the resolution of disputes that have become synonymous with government tenders.
The slow and convoluted legal battles waged by disgruntled bidders have paralysed service delivery, leaving critical government projects in limbo while those affected suffer the consequences.
Perhaps the most damning example of this crisis is the situation in government schools, where learners are forced to endure hunger due to perpetual legal appeals from unsuccessful catering bidders. How can we, as a nation, justify a system where red tape and greed take precedence over the basic needs of our children?
We must confront the harsh reality: corruption has deeply entrenched itself within public procurement, and the passage of the 2015 Procurement Act has done little to change this. What was championed as a game changer – a policy supposedly designed to close loopholes and root out malpractice – has instead become a mirror image of its predecessors.
It has allowed corrupt individuals to navigate procurement processes with alarming ease, manipulating regulations in their favour while the public suffers the consequences of delayed and compromised service delivery.
The Public Procurement Amendment Bill of 2025 must not be allowed to gather dust in bureaucratic corridors – it must be fast-tracked with urgency.
The welfare of the masses is an afterthought, overshadowed by the relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of public good.
It is encouraging that Swapo has taken decisive steps towards establishing a dedicated procurement court, a much-needed intervention to fast-track the resolution of disputes that have become synonymous with government tenders.
The slow and convoluted legal battles waged by disgruntled bidders have paralysed service delivery, leaving critical government projects in limbo while those affected suffer the consequences.
Perhaps the most damning example of this crisis is the situation in government schools, where learners are forced to endure hunger due to perpetual legal appeals from unsuccessful catering bidders. How can we, as a nation, justify a system where red tape and greed take precedence over the basic needs of our children?
We must confront the harsh reality: corruption has deeply entrenched itself within public procurement, and the passage of the 2015 Procurement Act has done little to change this. What was championed as a game changer – a policy supposedly designed to close loopholes and root out malpractice – has instead become a mirror image of its predecessors.
It has allowed corrupt individuals to navigate procurement processes with alarming ease, manipulating regulations in their favour while the public suffers the consequences of delayed and compromised service delivery.
The Public Procurement Amendment Bill of 2025 must not be allowed to gather dust in bureaucratic corridors – it must be fast-tracked with urgency.
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