ARUSHA: THE Ministry of Finance has called on procurement and supplies professionals to carry out their duties in line with the 2050 National Development Vision in order to strengthen good governance.
The call was made by the Minister for Finance, Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar, in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister for Finance, Engineer Mshamu Munde, when opening the 16th Procurement and Supplies Professionals’ Annual Conference organised by the Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board (PSPTB) in Arusha on Friday.
Ambassador Omar reminded participants that achieving the goals of the 2050 National Development Vision requires PSPTB to implement its activities in accordance with the vision.
“The government has directed that all procurement and supplies activities in the country be connected to the National e-Procurement System (NeST) to enhance transparency, accountability and value for money,” he said.
He added that the registration system for procurement and supplies professionals under PSPTB has also been integrated with NeST to ensure that only qualified professionals are registered and recognised.
According to him, since about 70 per cent of the government budget is spent on procurement and supplies, it is important for employers to allow their staff to attend PSPTB annual conferences, which help to strengthen professionalism and compliance with established standards.
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However, Ambassador Omar cautioned against the implementation of procurement and supplies activities by unqualified personnel, particularly at the local government level, noting that such practices violate the Procurement and Supplies Act.
In another development, he urged the private sector to ensure that their procurement and supplies activities comply with the relevant national laws. Chairperson of the PSPTB Board of Directors, Mr Jacob Kibona, highlighted several achievements, including development and administration of professional curricula aimed at producing competent procurement and supplies professionals.
He also cited the provision of continuous professional development training and the improvement of digital systems, including professional registration systems, as key milestones.
According to Mr Kibona, PSPTB has so far built the capacity of 3,164 procurement and supplies professionals. On challenges, he said the board is facing a shortage of qualified auditors, particularly at the local government level and noted that some councils engage auditors outside the profession, a practice that contributes to the loss of public funds and the production of poor-quality audit reports.