Govt urged to speed up ESP procurement
Friday, May 13, 2016
Goitsemang Morekisi, coordinator of the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) says delays in making payments breeds corruption tendencies among bidders who inflate costs as a mark-up for delays.
“Government procurement takes long, putting contractors under pressure that at times they end up wanting to pay to get help,” she told delegates at a special annual general meeting of the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) in Gaborone this week. She also called for the establishment of enablers for the ESP that will assist in speeding up the implementation process.
While the political shift brings hope for change, it also places immense pressure on the new administration to deliver on its election promises in the face of serious economic challenges.On another level, newly appointed Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s grim assessment of the country’s finances adds urgency to the moment. The budget deficit, expected to be P8.7 billion, is now anticipated to be even higher due to underperforming diamond...