This week, the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) proposed an immediate revision of Decree 79/2022, of December 30, which approves the Regulations for the Contracting of Public Works, the Supply of Goods and the Provision of Services to the State.

The entrepreneurs' proposal aims to fulfill the objectives (transparency, simplification of the public procurement process and reduction of bureaucracy) that guided the progress of the project to create GEPRES - Gestão de Recursos Públicos para Prestação de Serviços, an electronic system for public procurement (e-GP).

It also recommends the compulsory adoption of the Single Portal as the official platform for all procedures, and continuous monitoring mechanisms, with feedback from the private sector to correct failures.

GEPRES/e-GP was launched on Wednesday in Maputo, and speaking on the occasion, the President of CTA, Agostinho Vuma, pointed out some challenges that could jeopardize the implementation of the system.

I would highlight resistance to change on the part of civil servants and suppliers (often linked to a lack of familiarity with digital platforms and corruption), transparency and accessibility to information (many SMEs face difficulties in identifying business opportunities due to a failure to publicize public tender notices), simplification of procedures and reduction of bureaucracy (there is often a lack of standardization between UGEA, DAF and the Administrative Court, which generates redundant criteria, burdening suppliers), technical criteria for improving the technological infrastructure (investments will be needed to strengthen the infrastructure in order to avoid system failures).