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NAC criticised over procurement decision
The Standard (Zimbabwe)
October 17, 2004

http://www.thestandard.co.zw/read.php?st_id=782

BULAWAYO - District Aids Committees (DAC's) and empowerment pressure groups are up in arms against the National Aids Council (NAC) over its decision to centralise the acquisition and procurement of medical and surgical equipment for the home based care programme.

NAC this month centralised the buying of equipment that was initially undertaken by the Provincial and District Aids Committees.

The move has, however, raised concerns among a lot of DACs in areas out of Harare who beieve that centralisation can lead to serious corruption.

"All government departments are de-centralising their purchasing activities due to theft and corruption that is prevalent but here we have NAC centralising the purchasing system. A lot of the equipment is not reaching intended beneficiaries," said an official with a DAC in Bulawayo.

The director of NAC, Tapiwa Magure, last week confirmed that the NAC had centralised the acquisition of home-based care equipment but dismissed allegations that this would lead to corruption.

"The move is meant to cut costs and we have centralised the acquisition of home-based care so that we will manage to buy the goods in bulk and this is cost effective," Magure said.

But DAC officials in Matabeleland South insisted the new arrangement would lead to corruption.

"If the process is centralised it will mean that the DACs and the PACs will not enforce accountability from NAC but the process is easier the other way round," said the DAC official.

The Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa, however said NAC and DACs should come up with an arrangement that will ensure that everyone is satisfied.

"From my understanding, NAC centralised activities for home based care products so as to cut costs and the issue of corruption should not arise if properly done. The NAC and the DACs should devise an operational method that has checks and balances," Parirenyatwa said.

The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) president, Sam Ncube, said the decision by NAC to centralise activities of home-based care groups was likely to disempower business people in other regions.

"The tender system should also benefit business people from other regions and not only those from Harare alone. We are going to engage NAC to ensure that everyone benefits from the national cake," Ncube said.

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