Fri, 24 Mar 2017 13:44:56 +0000
By MAILESI BANDA
THE Electronic Government Procurement (E-GP) system is a strategic move to enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability in the management of public funds, Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), director general Denies Chisenda has said.
Speaking during the first quarter report presentation for the year 2017 in Lusaka yesterday, he said the use of the E-GP system would reduce the cost of doing business for both suppliers and the government.
Mr. Chisenda said the system would also help in the curbing of malpractice in public procurement.
He said the Authority would ensure the system reached the required standard before being rolled out to other public institutions.
“The E-GP system is a strategy to further enhance transparency, efficiency and accountability in the management of public funds and the system is envisaged to help in curbing corruption and malpractice in public procurement,” he said. He stated that the Authority had faced some challenges in implementing the system.
He explained that some of the challenges included inadequate infrastructure to support the implementation of the E-GP system in some procuring entities and the lack of computer skills especially from the rural areas.
He announced that a company called Pyramid Works Limited and its director Alex Chizyuka had been permanently debarred from participating in public procurement in Zambia since February.
He said that the company and director were barred due to underperformance on a contract.
He said the Authority reached the decision to ban the company and director after receiving a complaint from a procuring entity regarding the conduct of the company and its director.
He said investigations were instituted and later it was concluded that the company and the director be permanently barred from participating in public procurement.
