Cabinet Secretary calls for improved processes, transparency in public procurement activities

Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, has directed Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Departments to appoint contract manager in public procurement whenever a contract is awarded to ensure prudent use of public funds.

Kangwa said this when he officiated at a virtual training workshop attended by over 250 Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments in Government Ministries and provinces organized by the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) in Lusaka on Monday.

He said that the appointment of contract managers ensures that the supplier performs the works or services in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the contract and the contract manager thus ensures that goods, works and services are delivered at the right cost, right time and right quality.

Kangwa has urged Permanent Secretaries to ensure that the appointment of contract managers is done expeditiously whenever a contract is awarded as this is a requirement for all contracts regardless of the amount.

“Prudent contract management will ensure that suppliers adhere to the timelines for delivery of goods, works and services.

“Furthermore, contract management will ensure that projects are not abruptly stopped or terminated and it will certainly prevent the waste of public expenditure, among other benefits”, he said.

Kangwa has further advised the Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Procurement Units to promote the participation of women, youths and the disadvantaged in public procurement processes undertaken at district level through the use of Preference and Reservation Schemes.

“The country has a large population of youths who are unemployed and public procurement is one way of empowering the youths”, he said.

Kangwa added that it is very displeasing to observe that many Permanent Secretaries are summoned by the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly, on public procurement irregularities.

ZPPA Acting Director General, Belia Mulenga, has urged Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments to adhere to the Public Procurement Act No.8 of 2020 and the Public Procurement Regulations of 2022.

Mulenga has called on Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments in Government Ministries and Provinces to submit their annual procurement plans for 2023.

He has further advised that section 16(1) of the Public Procurement Act, provides for mandatory usage of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system by all procuring entities and the transitional period is three years which extends to 2024 as stipulated in section 113(7).

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