STAKEHOLDERS WELCOME ESPPRA’S MARKET PRICES CATALOGUE

EZULWINI – Stakeholders in the procurement fraternity have applauded the market prices reference catalogue for commonly used items produced by the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA).

Speaking during the official launch of the catalogue at SibaneSami Hotel recently, the stakeholders praised ESPPRA for taking the initiative to level the playing field in as far as the prices of commonly used items are concerned. The Eswatini National Industrial Development Corporation (ENIDC) Managing Director Muzikayise Dube expressed appreciation for the initiative.

Controlling

He noted that the catalogue would help in controlling officers since prices have suddenly increased after the establishment of ESPPRA. He expressed hope that procurement would now be guided. “As a controlling officer, you find it as a waste of time to follow the law to the dot because it is frustrating. You end up not buying and our organisations are suffering,” said Dube.
Matsapha Town Council Chief Executive Officer Lucky Sukati said: “We thank such an important initiative and are confident that it will aid the efforts to develop our local economies. “For instance, when an organisation in Matsapha buys from the Lubombo region, that region benefits.”  Sukati said the price difference for the same commodities was a confirmation for the dire need of such a regulation mechanism.

Costing

He said it was normal to stumble on a commodity with the same specification costing E400 and E1 200 in two different shops. Eswatini Air Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Qiniso Dhlamini also welcomed the initiative and highlighted the importance of regional procurement. He encouraged the support of businesses in the outlying regions such as Shiselweni and Lubombo, who he said should be given the opportunity to participate in the country’s economic growth. Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Finance Sizakele Dlamini said there would be a stakeholder engagement to address the decentralisation of public procurement. She said schools and hospitals would be encouraged to source goods and services from their regions. The PS noted the importance of improving public procurement. Lilian Zwane of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) joined the other executives in appreciating ESPPRA’s compilation of the market prices catalogue. University of Eswatini’s (UNESWA) Patience Hlatshwako said she was happy with the results of the market prices study, which she described as a step in the right direction in the improvement of public procurement.

Tool

ESPPRA’s Thulile Sifundza, who was the programme director at the event, labelled the catalogue as a tool that will improve the public procurement system. She mentioned that Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis & Research Centre (ESEPARC) was engaged through an open tendering process to conduct the study in the country’s four regions. She said the study has uncovered the mammoth task faced by government  to improve the public procurement system. Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, who launched the initiative, said it would revolutionise Eswatini’s public procurement landscape. He noted that public procurement was the engine of the country’s economy and assisted government in providing supplies for education, construction, maintenance of infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and health equipment, agriculture supplies and security, among others.

Income

“Suppliers of these goods and services get income to run their businesses with multiplier effects, including job creation which leads to economic growth,” he said. The minister mentioned that the success of the initiative depended on the collaboration and commitment of the different procuring entities. “The market prices reference catalogue signifies a new era of transparency and accountability in procurement. It is an opportunity for everyone to reshape the way we do business, maximise limited resources and drive economic growth for the benefit of Eswatini,” said Rijkenberg. The catalogue will be updated every two years.

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