BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MANZINI – Public procurement in Eswatini is undergoing a quiet but significant reinvention, shifting from a routine administrative function into a cornerstone of national progress.
At the centre of this transformation is the Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency, which is driving a bold agenda to ensure every Lilangeni spent delivers measurable impact.
Chief Executive Officer Vusumutiwendvodza Matsebula confirmed during an interview on April 30, 2026, with Eswatini Positive News that the focus has shifted towards prevention and system strengthening, with the goal of building a procurement environment that identifies risks early, corrects inefficiencies and instils confidence among stakeholders.
SHIFT FROM ROUTINE TO STRATEGY
Rather than simply enforcing regulations, ESPPRA is shaping a system that prioritises foresight, efficiency and accountability. The agency is embedding smarter processes across government, ensuring procurement decisions are guided by reliable data, strong compliance and strengthened institutional capacity.
CAPACITY BUILDING DRIVE
A key pillar of the reforms is a nationwide capacity-building programme targeting ministries and public entities.
Through hands-on and immersive workshops, procurement officers are being equipped with practical tools to improve planning, enhance compliance and align operations with national legislation and global benchmarks.
The sessions move beyond theory, focusing on real-world application. Participants engage with practical scenarios covering legal frameworks, tendering processes, evaluation techniques and compliance standards, ensuring they leave with actionable knowledge.
Facilitators say the training is bridging the gap between policy and practice, encouraging officials to align internal systems with national requirements while building confidence to make informed procurement decisions.
At a recent session attended by Ministry of Agriculture officials, participants described the programme as eye-opening, noting that procurement is now viewed as a strategic function that directly supports national priorities.
PLANNING AND DATA FOCUS
One of the most significant lessons emerging from the workshops is the importance of procurement planning.
Officials now recognise that planning is not a once-off administrative task, but a continuous process that underpins budgeting, implementation and performance monitoring.
The reforms also emphasise data-driven decision-making. Improved reporting systems are enabling institutions to track progress in real time, identify inefficiencies and respond proactively.
Historically, fragmented systems and weak data limited procurement effectiveness. ESPPRA is addressing these gaps by promoting consistent reporting and strengthening oversight mechanisms, ensuring procurement becomes strategic and forward-looking rather than reactive.
ETHICS, COMPLIANCE AND TRUST
Officials stress that compliance remains the backbone of the procurement system, noting that without it, credible data and meaningful reform are impossible.
The training reinforces a zero-tolerance stance on corruption, positioning integrity, transparency and accountability as non-negotiable principles.
Participants say the programme has strengthened their sense of responsibility, with procurement no longer seen as a checklist exercise, but as a process that directly influences national outcomes.
Senior officials say procurement, when handled with integrity, plays a central role in ensuring fiscal discipline and advancing inclusive development.
DRIVING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The reforms are also fostering a culture of professionalism within government, with officials leaving the workshops equipped not only with new skills, but with a renewed commitment to ethical conduct and service delivery.
With improved systems and stronger oversight, procurement is emerging as a key source of strategic insight, enabling better decision-making, improved efficiency and stronger policy direction.
As these reforms take root, procurement is increasingly being recognised as a driver of inclusive economic growth, transforming public spending into a powerful instrument for national development.
However, officials caution that the challenge now lies in sustaining this momentum and embedding these principles across all levels of government.
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