Mutorwa urges procurement decentralisation
SWAKOPMUND – Works and transport minister John Mutorwa has recommended the decentralisation of some administrative functions to allow government garages in the regions to function optimally.
“The possible decentralisation of supervisory and financial responsibilities of government garages, with the exception of Windhoek, to regional councils requires an urgent investigation,” he said.
Mutorwa recommended that procurement needs be delegated by allowing the regional offices to adjudicate the procurements at given limitations, and that they should also provide weekly and monthly reports to the ministry.
He also proposed that the current integrated financial systems be accessible from the regions in terms of creating, printing and approvals at predetermined thresholds of purchase orders. The minister further recommended that procurements for immediate needs be considered within the ambit of the legally-prescribed procurement processes and procedures.
Lengthy administrative processes delay the repairs of over 500 government vehicles currently parked at 11 government garages throughout the country.
At least 23 others are parked and unattended at M+Z Motors in Windhoek, waiting for the arrival of spare parts from South Africa or Germany. Mutorwa made the observation yesterday at the opening of the Swakopmund government garage, where at least 30 government vehicles are waiting on parts to be repaired.
A further 82 are parked at
Rundu, 294 in Windhoek and about 110 in Ondangwa.
“Most of the vehicles need basic spare parts. However, the current bureaucratic and lengthy administrative processes have literally brought the operations at government garages to almost a complete standstill,” Mutorwa said during the opening of the first-ever government garage built after independence.
The minister reiterated that speedy intervention is needed to change the situation, as these vehicles are critical to government’s operations.
“This situation must be immediately changed as this not only hampers service delivery,
but is a costly exercise for the government. We are aware that the procurement process is highly centralised, with the critical boards also based in Windhoek. However, the ongoing review of the Public Procurement Act should facilitate decentralisation, or delegate some powers and duties to ensure that the procurement of basic spare parts and services are locally-sourced within the regions,” Mutorwa continued.
He then instructed officials from his ministry to cut the unnecessary red tape and allow some basic services as well as some spare parts such as batteries to be sourced locally.