Professor Ndulo advocates transparency, public involvement in Zambia’s PPP framework (Video)

Constitutional-making expert, Professor Muna Ndulo has endorsed Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an effective method for financing infrastructure projects in Zambia.

He highlighted that PPPs do not contribute to the national debt stock, making them a sustainable option for development.

Speaking at the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research (SAIPAR), Muna Ndulo Campus in Lusaka during a discussion on the Policy Brief on Advancing Zambia’s Public-Private Partnership Framework, Ndulo stressed the importance of transparency in the selection of investors for PPP projects.

“The best way to choose investors in a PPP project is through competitive bidding,” Ndulo stated.

He cautioned against the risks of corruption that can arise from single-sourcing selection, noting that even when single-sourcing was restricted to emergencies, officials may create artificial emergencies to circumvent competitive processes.

At the same event, Dr Tinenenji Banda, a Research Fellow and Associate Director at SAIPAR, underscored the importance of public participation in advancing the PPP framework.

She pointed out that Zambia faces significant infrastructure deficits, a high debt burden and a shrinking fiscal space, necessitating innovative solutions like PPPs to address these challenges.

Read More: Govt acknowledges huge infrastructure deficits, as Musokotwane speaks on public private partnerships

However, Banda observed that public scepticism towards PPPs in Zambia remained high, often due to misconceptions equating PPPs with privatization and concerns about corruption.

“Public involvement is a critical factor in the success or failure of PPP projects,” Banda noted.

She emphasized that successful PPPs in other jurisdictions typically have strong public participation frameworks and while Zambia’s PPP framework included provisions for public participation, these have not been effectively operationalised.

Banda called for enhanced public engagement to improve the success rate of PPP projects in the country.

“There is a need for greater transparency and public involvement to build trust and ensure the effective implementation of PPPs in Zambia,” she concluded.

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