‘LEAVE PROCUREMENT TO SKILLED PROFESSIONALS’

MBABANE - Companies and organisations are encouraged to ensure that procurement is left in the hands of skilled and experienced professionals.

This was one of the key messages directed to participants during the CIPS for Business Eswatini Engagement Dinner at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane last Wednesday.  Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) facilitated the engagement dinner in partnership with Zeal Procurement and Supply Chain Limited. The latter is owned by Lomakhosi Magagula, who is a trailblazer in the procurement industry and her company deals in international logistics and transport management; procurement and supply chain consultancy; procurement academy; and supply of goods, services and works, among other things. During the event featuring guests who included newly-appointed Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA).

Challenged

Chief Executive Officer Vusi Matsebula and his predecessor Madoda Mngomezulu; Magagula challenged the regulator to lead by example by bringing on board more professionals in procurement. Magagula is also chairperson of CIPS Eswatini. The participants had to zoom in on procurement, as it accounted for at least 60 per cent of companies or institutions’ budget.
In fact, there are also various studies done by World Bank on the same in various countries and it has all proven that most governments’ expenditure is on procurement. South Africa-based Craig O’Flaherty, who is Head of CIPS for Business manned the proceedings on the day. CIPS is said to be the largest professional body for procurement and supply globally.
There are programmes in place from CIPS meant to professionalise procurement.

CIPS membership comes with countless benefits that include access to the knowledge hub as well as free ethics training and test, among others. Among other things, O’Flaherty shared essential steps for corporate ethical procurement and supply. CIPS corporate ethical procurement and supply is said to be a pathway which demonstrates an organisation’s integrity and commitment to ethics. “By taking the necessary steps to achieving the CIPS Corporate Ethical Mark and a listing on the CIPS Corporate Register, you can increase confidence in your business and reduce financial and reputational risk,” he shared.

Route

Among the programmes on offer at CIPS is the management entry route (MER), which runs for six weeks.  MER is designed for procurement professionals who are already operating in senior strategic role within procurement or supply chain management with extensive on-the-job experience. The study programmes consist of several modules, with an interactive workshop for each, followed by assignments based on live issues encountered by staff in their day jobs. Companies interested in the various programmes can liaise with CIPS.

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