Harare (New Ziana) -President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rescinded a gazetted General Notice purportedly barring public scrutiny of procurement procedures of certain goods mainly from the health sector.
General Notice 635 of 2023 under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act purported that President Mnangagwa had declared construction equipment and materials, biomedical and medical equipment,
medicines and drugs (pharmaceuticals) to be of national interest and as such, their procurement should not be publicly disclosed.
The notice also listed vehicles including ambulances, laboratory equipment, chemicals and accessories, hospital protective equipment as well as repairs and maintenance services of hospital equipment and
machinery.
However, in a statement, chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr
Misheck said the notice is a nullity and does not have a standing at law
since it does not bear his signature as is the norm.
“Upon further investigations, it has come to light that the so-called
Government Gazette Notice is a nullity, having been published without
authorisation and without the signature of the Chief Secretary to the
President and Cabinet as is the norm.
“Whilst 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document in question has been rescinded as it has no standing at law, in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,” he said, further
advising the public to disregard it.
Dr Sibanda reaffirmed government commitment to follow due processes of
the law by adhering to a transparent public procurement policy and process.
New Ziana
