An Analysis of the Challenges Faced in Public Sector Procurement: A Case of the Ministry of Local Government in Zimbabwe
- Author
- Kwashirai, Larry
- Title
- An Analysis of the Challenges Faced in Public Sector Procurement: A Case of the Ministry of Local Government in Zimbabwe
- Abstract
-
Achieving efficiency in public procurement remains a challenge in Zimbabwe. The study
aimed to assess the challenges of public procurement systems at the Ministry of Local
Government (MLG). A total of 14 interviews and 32 questionnaires were conducted and
administered respectively. The findings revealed that the current procurement methods were
largely inefficient and fraught with malpractices. This was due to vested interests, lack of
political will, lack of knowledge in some instances, confusing instrumentation and a lack of
ICT integration. This had the net effect of compromising the purchasing process. The study
also found that the 5 rights of purchasing were not adhered to in the context of Ministry of
Local Government, with price and quality being compromised more than other rights.
Strategies to improve the procurement process included doing away with vested interests by
strengthening the legal instruments to both the purchasing process as well as the punitive laws.
Achieving this would also require the political will to do away with these malpractices. There
was also need to improve the efficiency of the purchasing process by improving exposure to
ICT and processes of purchasing using these modern methods. Based on these findings it was
recommended that management at MLG has to improve the level of compliance with
procurement regulations as well as designing better procurement policies so as to maximize
efficiency in the whole process. It was also recommended that the organization has to invest in
training as well as improve the integration of ICT in the procurement process.
- Date
- 2022
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Public Sector Procurement:
- Supervisor
- N/A
- Item sets
- Department of Economics
- Media
-
Lorraine Kwashirai.pdf