HH Warns Of Consequences To Those Disregarding Procurement Reforms

HH WARNS OF CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE DISGREGARDING PROCUREMENT REFORMS

Presidential Spokesperson, Anthony Bwalya says President Hakainde Hichilema has embarked on the reformation of the public procurement of the country.

And Mr Bwalya stresses that the recent revelations by the Auditor General’s Report on the non-compliance to procurement procedures by the past regime has irked the Head of State.

Addressing the Press at State House this afternoon, Mr Bwalya stated that President Hichilema has guided that all Government procurement agencies adheres to the Circular Number 4 of 2021 issued by Cabinet office on the procurement of goods and services, warning of consequences to those who would disregard the guidelines.

“The President’s long standing view is that in order for us to expand and expedite the delivery of social and economic dividends for the Zambian people, we must eliminate the feud of public procurement feud. To this effect, the President has provided guidance and leadership on this matter and this leadership and guidance stands and follows: that all public procurement of goods and services and roads must be applied for and meet these three basic requirements: 1, the right price; 2, value for money and 3, quality and timely delivery of these public goods and services. To this effect, Cabinet office has since issued Circular Number of 2021 which compels all Government Procurement Agencies to comply with the above guidelines,” he said.

He stated that the President was worried that wasteful expenditure of public resources and the rise in the failure by Government procurement Agencies in the past 3 years was robbing the general citizenry of services such as clean drinking water, education facilities, health care and job opportunities.

“From the Auditor General’s Report for 31st December, 2020, two (2) issues stand out: number one, the failure to follow tender procedures-this has spiked from K524, 500 in 2019 to a figure of K234, 700, 094 on 2020. Number 2: Wasteful expenditure has risen from a figure of K3, 730, 964 in 2019 to K1, 407, 521, 520 by 2021. The country aims incidentally the Zambian people are losing money and opportunities for jobs; public health care; education and sanitation among several others,” he charged.

He warned that the President would not sit and watch while public servants continued to rob marginalised Zambians of a better future, charging that there would be consequences to those who would be found wanting.

“There will be consequences as far as abrogation of Circular Number 4 issued by Cabinet office. Further to that the ZPPA through the Auditor General has also been guided to expedite the completion of the price benchmarking of tender in line with Section 45 (2) of the Public Procurement Act. That they also must publish on a quarterly basis the price of tenders in line with Section 12 (2) and Subsection 3 of the Public Procurement Act. Now…let me emphasize that the President means business on the need to reform how public procurement works. Those who will disregard the President’s guidance on the need for reform of public procurement should work in this country…I must mention that there will be consequences as as been outlined in Circular Number 4 of 2021 issued by Cabinet Office,” he charged.