BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg has mandated the new board of Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA) to ensure that they aligned procurement with best practices.
Rijkenberg gave the mandate today (Wednesday, November 27, 2024) at his offices in Mbabane. This was when the minister introduced the ESPPRA newly appointed board of directors. The board of directors includes Sabela Dlamini, who is the chairperson of the board.
Other board members consist of Thulile Dube (member), Nakekelo Ginindza (member), and Wellington Motsa (member). According to information from the Ministry of Finance, the board is tasked with providing oversight and ensuring that procurement policies aligned with best practices.
The minister expected that the expertise and efforts of the members of the board would promote integrity within the procurement processes. The board’s expertise and efforts would also stimulate growth and innovation in the private sector. By so doing, the board would help in driving Eswatini’s economic development.
ESPPRA was officially established on May 27, 2013, following the coming into force of the Public Procurement Act No. 7 of 2011. It is listed as a Category A public enterprise, administratively, reporting to the Ministry of Finance.
The Procurement Act No. 7 of 2011 established the ESPPRA as an independent regulatory body, empowering the Agency with responsibility of policy formulation, regulation, oversight, capacity building and professional development, information management and dissemination in the field of public procurement in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
In its scope of work, the Agency ensures accountability and transparency, while maintaining confidentiality of information. The Agency also works to achieve economic development through efficiency and maximum competition to ensure value for money in the use of public funds. In its work, the Agency also promotes diverse private sector participation through fair and non-discriminatory treatment of tenderers.
Developing the economic capacity of Eswatini is also one of the mandates of ESPPRA, through provision of opportunities for Eswatini companies to participate in public procurement. The Agency also promotes regional and international trade in accordance with agreements entered into by the Government of Eswatini.
