Maravi

There’s rampant corruption in public procurement – MPs

There’s rampant corruption in public procurement – MPs
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 27 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

A PARLIAMENTARY committee report on communications, transport, works and supply has observed that there is rampant corruption in the public procurement process because there is panic. The report which was presented by committee chairperson Ng'andu Magande said the situation had resulted in government spending more than necessary.

The report stated that the heads of the procurement unit reported to the human resource manager who would instruct that the works were urgent and then things were done without following procedures.

"Sometimes the works procured cost three times higher than the normal price and the advice of the professionals was ignored.

Those who could not put up with corruption resigned. It was further stated that those heading the procurement units were of low positions. It was the view of the stakeholders that the procurement units should be headed by directors so that they could superintend over procurement with confidence," the report stated.

The committee, however, observed that it was wrong to brand every contractor as corrupt, saying some of them were clean.

"It might be true that there were some bad eggs in the construction industry, but it would not be correct to term every contractor corrupt. The procedure demanded that before any certificate was issued, it had to be inspected by the Consulting Engineer and there were seven other signatories to the payment, which made it very difficult to bribe all of them.

All the stakeholders failed to substantiate the allegations of leakages during the tendering process. They stated that no one was willing to put anything in writing in relation to this."

The committee further observed that putting ministers in the Central Tender Board was a serious flaw in the Procurement Act.

The committee has since recommended, among others, that government should immediately place directors to be in-charge of procurement in the ministry involved.

"Government should implement a law to punish contractors and professional engineers who do not act professionally.

Government should also consider incorporating ZIPS Zambia Institute of Purchasing and Supply members on the Central Tender Board so that they can offer professional advice," recommended the committee.

Labels: CORRUPTION, MAGANDE, MPs, PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS

posted by MrK @ 2:14 PM