African diamond crusade
Friday, April 01, 2011
The Almighty God is going to be taking us on a long diamond journey that will ultimately take us to where God has destined for us as a nation and as a continent. It is a long winding road, and certainly one with thorns, sharp needles, poisonous serpents, masweswa, scorpions and all wicked vices. But it nevertheless is a road that must be travelled.
It is an effort motivated by the desire to serve the continent, and to contribute to the shifting of mindsets towards the direction of continuous improvement in our diamond industry, for the benefit of all. It is motivation born out of discontentment with the continuous deviation from the purposes for which God gave us huge deposits of diamonds - a finite resource which God gave us for a season. It is a cry for total independence!
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...