Namibia Proposes Dedicated Procurement Court to Streamline Dispute Resolution

Namibia’s Minister of Finance has proposed the Public Procurement Amendment Bill of 2025 to establish a dedicated procurement court. This initiative aims to address gaps in the Public Procurement Act of 2015, enhance accountability, and expedite dispute resolutions in public procurement processes. The court would mitigate prolonged legal challenges and promote competitive bidding.

In a significant development for Namibia’s procurement sector, Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, has presented a bill aimed at the establishment of a dedicated procurement court to resolve disputes related to procurement. The Public Procurement Amendment Bill of 2025 seeks to fill critical voids identified in the Public Procurement Act of 2015, which was enacted on April 1, 2017, to uphold key procurement principles such as fairness, transparency, accountability, efficiency, competitiveness, effectiveness, and integrity.

Minister Shiimi emphasized that the amendments are urgently needed to bolster accountability and facilitate swift resolution of procurement disputes, thereby enhancing transparency and efficiency in Namibia’s public procurement system. Furthermore, he noted that the Swapo Party’s Implementation Plan for 2025 to 2030 prioritizes the establishment of a procurement court specifically designed for public procurement disputes.

Shiimi articulated that the current challenges in public procurement disputes often lead to extended legal resolutions, thus hampering essential service delivery and undermining fair competition. Notably, he pointed out recurrent legal issues in procuring vital goods, such as pharmaceuticals and food for school hostels, which have forced the government to engage in emergency procurements. This reactive approach escalates costs and limits competitive bidding in the sector.

To address these persistent challenges, the proposed amendments will introduce a specialized court within the High Court, aimed at expediting the adjudication process for public procurement matters. This initiative marks a crucial stride toward reforming and improving the public procurement landscape in Namibia.

The introduction of the Public Procurement Amendment Bill of 2025 signifies an important move to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and fairness of procurement processes in Namibia. By establishing a dedicated procurement court, the government aims to resolve disputes more swiftly and effectively, ultimately promoting better service delivery and competition within the procurement system.

Original Source: www.namibian.com.na