Hon Speaker, hon members, indeed, I agree that there's a need to bring about better efficiency in the manner in which tenders are adjudicated. That part I agree with unreservedly and I think that it's absolutely necessary. However, I think it is being a bit too liberal with the truth to suggest that tender boards consist of members of the ruling party. [Applause.]
Because this is a serious matter, I think we should resist the temptation to do that, so that we can deal with the problem. After all, once a tender is awarded to people with no capacity to deliver, it is the people who suffer in the end. We must seriously find ways of resolving this problem.
I had a discussion with the President on Monday about the need to have a way of independently monitoring tenders after they have been awarded. If, for instance, it's the installation of a sewage system, government must have an adjudication process in which the Ministry of Human Settlements and local government, for example, can appoint persons who go out there on a monthly basis and check whether the work is being done according to specifications. This will mean we don't become aware of the problem only when all the money has been spent, yet the quality of the product borders on the criminal. Thank you. [Applause.]