Cabinet Amends the Public Procurement Act

Zimbabwe Cabinet yesterday announced a proposed amendment of the Public Procurement of Disposal and Public Assets Act Chapter 22.23 to rectify some deficiencies identified in the Act in order to ensure that it fulfils its major objective to effectively provide for the control and regulation.
Speaking during a press briefing after a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the move is to ensure that such procurement and disposal is done in a manner that is transparent, fair honest, cost-effective and competitive.
The Minister also said the proposed amendments will make provisions clearer.
Amendments made to the act include the following.
Section 26 of the Act is to be extended to cover not only construction works but also good services.
The proposal offers an exemption of state enterprises operating competitive markets for publication of procurement notices since such publication exposes their strategic intentions thereby prejudicing their competitive position.
The amendment will also provide for the purpose of the transitional period as provided in Section 103.1 of the Act an extending period by further 12 months.
Section 54.2 of the Act shall be deleted in order to exclude the Auditor General from being a member of the special procurement oversight committee role so as to prevent the appearance of a conflict of interest.
The proposal also offer for the amendment of part 10 of the act in order to allow for more flexibility in the review of public procurement proceedings.
The act is also being amended to align provisions on the disposal of public assets with those of the Public Finance Act Chapter 32: 19