Dr Nchemba Directs Ministries, Public Institutions To Handle Procurement And Supply Works Professionally -

By Staff Reporter

THE Minister of Finance has directed all ministries and public institutions in the country to assure all works pertaining to procurement and supply are handled by professional staff who possess the needed qualifications and experience, and not otherwise.

Dr Mwigulu Nchemba who was the chief guest at the opening of the 14th edition of the Procurement and Supply Professionals Annual General Conference this afternoon in Arusha City, in his remarks underscored over the need for the vital sector to be manned by the experienced and registered professionals in order to plug loop holes of mismanagement of public funds.

He added that, it was very disconcerting, but also unprofessional that in some of the districts and councils public procurement processes are being worked out by unprofessional workers.

“This is one among the sensitive sectors for the metamorphosis of the national economy because it directly dealing with at least 70 percent of the total national annual budget,” the Minister insisted.

Together with that, Dr. Nchemba ordered the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the parent ministry to meet with his counterpart in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government) to discuss and set necessary strategies for ensuring the timely directive is implemented in all public offices and relevant departments.

Giving further information over development of the sector, the minister expressed that the government will work round the clock to curtail a sharp shortage in the number of procurement and supply officials in the country.

“And in the whole process for rolling out supply tenders, its high time for the procurement officials to prioritise the local service providers in order to help boosting home economy, ” he urged.

He detailed that, as per the government’s set regulations, all of procurement and supply processes are currently supposed to be processed through the National e-Procurement System

On 30 June 2023, the Public Procurement (National Electronic Procurement) Regulations were published. They are aimed at providing a guide on the use of electronic procurement.

“I appreciate the professional manner through which the Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board (PSPTB) is working teeth and nail to shapen professionalism of the country’s procurement and supply professionals, including assisting them to master use of NEPS digital system, ” he appreciated.

He challenged the participants of the ongoing three – day forum which convening at the Arusha International Conference Center (AICC) to use the gathering effectively in order to discuss and set crucial strategies for the bright future of the sector.

Under the main theme of “Digital transformation For Improving Procurement And Supply Chain Management Towards Sustainable Development” the annually staged forum attract nearly 2000 professionals in procurement and supply chain management sector.

In his remarks during the event, the Chairman of the PSPTB board of directors, Jacob Kibona expressed some of the achievements they have so far attained, as well as the existing challenges.

“We have recorded a major stride in the general works to monitor and improve performance of the sector through organising several training towards the relevant professionals, examining, certifying and registering them according to regulations, including curriculum accreditation guidelines,” he detailed.

And briefing over the challenges, he unveiled that the board, PSPTB is not having enough financial muscle to execute it top role more professionally, including a task of inspecting the involved professionals.

However, for his part, PSPTB Executive Director Goodfred Mbanyi, said their current major focus was to ensure the professionals in procurement and supply within the country are equipped with vital skills needed in the use of digital system.

The annually- staged event which has been coordinated by the Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board (PSPTB) attracts procurement and supply practitioners, tender board members, accounting officers, auditors, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, pharmacists, academicians, consultants, researchers, policy makers, business community, entrepreneurs, suppliers, contractors, Non-government organizations (NGOs), as well as any other stakeholders.

The helpful gathering is sponsored by a number of companies, which include Zanzibar Insurance Cooperation (ZIC), Dynatech Solutions, Shades of Green Safaris, the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL), Bravado Solutions, Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF), Bisech Tour Company, Nekira Company Ltd, Haier Tanzania, e- Government (e-GA), Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN), Soft Tech Consultant and UTT AMIS.

Others are Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA),National Insurance Corporation of Tanzania (NIC), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), UCSAF, Fair Competition Commission (FCC), , National Social Security Fund (NSSF), National Housing Corporation ( NHC) as well as Workers Compansation Fund ( WCF).