By EPN Reporter
Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg demands accountability from companies that usually supply government through tenders.
To get the accountability he needs, the minister launched the Market Price Reference Catalogue for Common Use Items. The launch took place in Ezulwini yesterday. The Catalogue, according to Rijkenberg, would standardise the pricing of regular items procured by government and public entities, therefore enhancing transparency and value for money in public spending.
He said as a government, they had an obligation to maximise every cent of the country’s budget, thus better management of the public procurement sector with increased transparency, efficiency and value for money was critical for achieving economic growth and boosting shared prosperity for all,” Rijkenberg said.
He said they were all very aware of the challenges faced by the government in managing its procurement spend, which currently stood at a staggering 22.6 per cent of the country’s expenditure. He said it was imperative that they addressed the existing issue of overpricing, be it for common-use items or any sector of the government services, which not only depleted government funds, but further hampered economic growth and sustainability.
By tackling this issue head-on and implementing a transparency tool, the minister said they, as the government, were sending a clear message that Eswatini was committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability, transparency and integrity.
The Catalogue is expected to be available for download today (Friday, 19 January 2024) from the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA) website.
