By Rebecca Haipinge
The government of the Republic of Namibia’s efforts in terms of the objects of the Public Procurement Act, No. 15 of 2015 (Act), (as amended), aimed at strengthening and empowering the Namibian economy is commendable. The implementation of the legislated objectives towards the realization of an empowered and industrialised Namibian economy must, however, be intentional and of collective standard efforts of all respective public entities’ stakeholders entrusted with public procurement of goods, services and works.
Stakeholders within public procurement entities rightfully in terms of the respective provisions of the Act and Public Procurement Regulations at various segregated stages of the public procurement process play a role that could steer towards the implementation of strengthening and empowering the Namibian economy. User Departments, Procurement Management Units, Procurement Committees, Bid Evaluation Committees and Accounting Officers. All aforementioned stakeholders make recommendations at respective stages of the public procurement process. Therefore, may make intentional recommendations towards the implementation of government efforts to strengthen and empower the Namibian economy.
Procurement is initiated by User Departments, with needs for goods/services/works to be fulfilled towards the attainment of organisational goals. Therefore, User Departments may set specifications/terms of reference/scope of works responsive to the dynamics of the Namibian market/industries. It is acknowledged and perceived that the Namibian market/industries does not always offer the best value for money (the optimal combination of quality, cost and time) responsive to the requirements of the organizations. However, as the saying goes “garbage in, garbage out”. User Departments are at liberty to put out quality seeking specifications/terms of reference/scope of works that set quality standards for the Namibian market/industries to respond accordingly.
The Procurement Management Unit must monitor the procurement process compliance and application to the provisions of the Act. The Bid Evaluation Committee must evaluate according to the criteria set out responsive to sought after intentions. The Procurement Committee must oversee the procurement process of the public entity for recommendation to the Accounting Officer. The Accounting Officer is accountable for the full compliance to the Act. Therefore, all respective public procurement stakeholders play a role towards intentional efforts that would promote the objects of the Act, to strengthen and empower the Namibian economy.
The time is right to do so, the legislations are in place in terms of the objects of the Public Procurement Act, No. 15 of 2015 (as amended) under section 2, the Notice of issuance of Code of Good Practice on Preferences, Directive related to Cession of Procurement Contracts Payments due to Suppliers, Contractors and Service Providers, and Suspension or Debarment of Suppliers for Non-performance of Obligations under the Procurement Contracts The legislative environment enables the implementation of efforts to strengthen and empower the Namibian economy, it is a matter of implementation.
The market should and would be set right through equal intentional expectations through putting out quality seeking specifications/terms of references/scope of works. The Namibian market/industries bidders are, therefore, to respond to the window of opportunities availed to transform the Namibia economy in terms of value for money.
Namibia in its effort to strengthen and empower its economy towards industrialisation should not shy award from trial and error. Finding the most successful method of getting it right must start with being intentional.
Public entities that follow the April to March fascial calendar are approaching the end of the current 2023/2024 Financial Year, and planning for the new 2024/2025 Financial Year.
Hence, moreso the right time for Accounting Officers to set intentional public procurement plans of intentional efforts to advance the government of the Republic of Namibia efforts “to promote, facilitate and strengthen measures to implement the empowerment and industrialisation policies”.