State Purchase Flaws in Check

Loopholes in the highly contested Public Procurement Act of 2011 that led to inflated costs and corruption in public procurement will be something of the past as the government tabled for first reading in the National Assembly a bill seeking to amend the legislation.

The Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2016, tabled on Thursday proposes efficiency in procuring goods and services reflecting prevailing market prices, enjoy benefits such as bulky procurement accruing from use of standardized requirements, minimize corruption loopholes and increase accountability in procurement.

It as well proposes to make amendments in the legislation to boost efficiency in public procurement by minimising procurement transaction costs and processing time to ensure value for money in public procurement.

Shortly after it was moved for first reading in the House, the Deputy Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson, directed the Parliamentary Committee to start deliberating the schedule.

The tabling falls in line with a pledge made by President John Magufuli during his inaugural speech of the 11th Parliament in November last year, where he hinted that the procurement law would be amended to seal loopholes for embezzlement of public funds.

Dr Magufuli spoke at length how the legislation was being abused by unscrupulous suppliers who quote inflated and unrealistic prices of commodities, causing massive losses of public funds.

As posted on the Parliament website on Thursday, the amendments intend, among others, to review institutional arrangement and responsibilities within procuring entities in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Culled from Daily News