President Emmerson Mnangagwa has disowned and reversed the controversial new government procurement law that was gazetted yesterday.
In a statement issued by the Office of the President and Cabinet, Mnangagwa chided the new law stating that it had been gazetted illegally without consultation.
“His Excellency the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa has been made aware of some document gazetted as General Notice 635 of 2023, purporting to place the procurement of certain goods outside public scrutiny, on the grounds of “national interest”. Upon further investigations, it has come to light that the so-called Government Gazetted Notice is a nullity, having been published without authorization, and without the signature of the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, as is the norm.
“While further investigations are underway, Government wishes to advise the public that, on the instruction of His Excellency the President, the document in question has been rescinded as it has no standing at law, in policy and in terms of set Government Procedures. It thus should be disregarded.
“Government remains committed as ever to managing a transparent public procurement policy and process, as required by the laws of the country.” Reads the statement.
The decision to rescind the gazette comes after Government had yesterday gazetted General Notice 635 of 2023 which sought to remove the procurement of certain goods removed from public scrutiny on the basis that the said goods are of “national interest.”
The rescission comes after a public outcry as many people expressed shock and angst over such a clearly ill thought out law which would have been easily used as a cover for massive graft, a vice that is already rampant within public service.
The now rescinded law read as follows…..
General Notice 635 of 2023.
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND DISPOSAL OF PUBLIC ASSETS ACT [CHAPTER 22:23]
IT is hereby notified that the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe has, in terms of section 3(6) of the public procurement and disposal of Public Assets Act [Chapter 22:23], declared the following to be of national interest and shall not be publicly disclosed-
(1) construction equipment and materials;
(2) biomedical and medical equipment;
(3) medicines and drugs (pharmaceuticals)
(4) vehicles inclusing ambulances;
(5) laboratory equipment, chemicals and accessories;
(6) hospital protective equipment; and
(7) repairs and maintenance services of hospital equipment and machinery.
