ZPPA WARNS NON-COMPLIANT PROCURING ENTITIES

By Daily News Reporter

THE Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) launched the use of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system to reduce corruption and malpractice associated with the public procurement process.

Since the introduction of the E-GP system Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) has observed with great concern the low usage of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System by most procuring entities (PEs) that have been trained and added to the e-GP system.

And according to section 16(1) of the Public Procurement Act No. 8 of 2020, it provides for mandatory usage of the e-GP System by all procuring entities for procurement activities.

 

Speaking to Daily News in Lusaka, Acting ZPPA Director General Justin Matimuna noted that all procuring entities that have met the requirements for usage of the e-GP System and have been trained and added to the e-GP System, are required to conduct their procurement processes on the System.

And ZPPA has directed all controlling officers and heads of procurement units to fully implement the e-GP system in line with section 16 of public procurement Act.

“We are monitoring the usage of the system by procuring entities and sanctions will be administered to those entities who will be found wanting in accordance with section 105(1) of the procurement Act,” Matimuna said.

However, most PEs that have been trained and added to the e-GP System have not been utilizing the system in their procurement activities contrary to section 16 of the Public Procurement Act.

In addition ZPPA in the second quarter of 2024 a total of 5,383 tenders from 414 procuring entities were published on the e-GP system and at the end of second quarter ZPPA registered 1,315 suppliers that brings the total of 80,403 suppliers on the system.

And failure to comply with any of the requirements of the Public Procurement Act No. 8 of 2020 is an offence in line with section 105 (2) (g) and that any person convicted of an offence under the said section is liable to the applicable administrative and legal sanctions.

The e-GP system is the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the procurement of goods, works, and consultancy and non-consultancy services in the public sector.

The aim of the e-GP system is to provide an electronic public procurement platform supporting end to end procurement processes and good governance in financial expenditure in public procurement.

Further the use of the e-GP enhances transparency, obtain value for money and achieve economy and efficiency. This means that all public institutions will be engaging suppliers in the acquisition of goods, works, consulting and non-consulting services required by the public sector on this internet based platform.