INTRODUCING PROCUREMENT ADJUDICATION IN THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROCESS IN LESOTHO

The problem facing the public procurement in Lesotho today is ineffective and inefficient procurement system that lacks transparency. The lack of transparency becomes a habitat for acts of corruption. The wider community of people living in Lesotho are negatively impacted by this phenomenon because of poor quality of goods and services. This study proposes to introduce an independent all-time procurement adjudication system that will monitor all the procurement processes to improve transparency, efficiency and deter acts of corruption. The study was founded on the three theoretical frameworks of principal-agent theory, system-based theory and stakeholder theory. A qualitative inductive phenomenological design method using semi-structured interviews and focus groups was used in seven government entities, seven state-owned entities and five private contracting and consulting entities in the city of Maseru. Thematic data analysis method was used following the data coding, categorisation and theming process. The findings of the results showed that the Lesotho’s procurement system is unfair, ineffective, inefficient and lacks transparency. The results further suggested that correcting the procurement process by improving the system’s independence and oversight will deter corruption and improve value for money. It is recommended that future research be made to evaluate the impact of delays and cost of the adjudication system introduced by the government.