Mbabane– Contractors who win government tenders but fail to deliver the goods or complete the work risk facing the law.
Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA) Chief Executive Officer Vusumutiwendvodza Matsebula has warned, calling on the public to report suppliers who fail to honour their contractual obligations.
He issued the warning on October 9,2026 during a stakeholder engagement workshop on enforcement of the Public Procurement Act, 2011, held at Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane, where Judge Cyril Maphanga is leading the engagement.
The warning comes amid concerns about procurement failures and financial irregularities involving public funds, with audit findings highlighting the consequences of weak contract management and inadequate oversight.
According to media reports, a government-approved E25 million emergency tender for medical supplies had delivered no accepted stock to the public health system more than three months after approval in November 2025.
The report, published on February 8, 2026, raised questions about whether emergency procurement had achieved its intended purpose.
In another case, the Auditor General reported financial irregularities exceeding E3.3 billion in the International Convention Centre and Five-Star Hotel (ICC-FISH) project. A report published on September 23, 2025, highlighted weaknesses in contract management, procurement processes and project supervision, alongside cost escalations and delays.
Although these findings concern different procurement issues and do not all establish contractor non-delivery, they illustrate the financial and accountability challenges associated with public projects.
The construction sector, estimated in the research provided at approximately E1.43 billion, has also been identified as vulnerable to tender manipulation, collusion and unethical practices. Such concerns raise questions about the capacity of contractors awarded public projects and the effectiveness of measures to ensure that contracts are fulfilled.
Matsebula urged members of the public to report suppliers who fail to meet their contractual obligations, highlighting the importance of bringing suspected procurement failures to the attention of the relevant authorities.
ESPPRA regulates public procurement in Eswatini and oversees compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2011. Its enforcement role is central to ensuring that suppliers meet their obligations and that breaches are addressed through the appropriate legal processes.
For taxpayers, the issue goes beyond who wins a tender. Public money is allocated to secure specific goods, services and infrastructure, and when contractors fail to deliver, intended beneficiaries may be left waiting while government faces pressure to resolve the resulting problems.
The enforcement engagement therefore places renewed focus on accountability in public procurement and the need to ensure that winning a government tender translates into actual delivery.
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