By PRISCA LUMINGU
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has expressed concern that the country has continued to lose huge sums of money due to public procurement fraud as evidenced in the latest Auditor General’s report on the financial year 2020.
And President Hichilema has directed the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) through the office of the director general to expedite the completion of price bench marking exercise in line with section 62 of the Public Procurement Act.
The President has also directed that ZPPA should publish on a quarterly basis the bench marked prices in line with section 12 sub sections 3 of the Public Procurement Act.
Mr Hichilema said this through his special assistant for press and public relations Anthony Bwalya during a press briefing at State House yesterday.
“The President means business on the need to reform on how public procurement works are done in this country,” Mr. Bwalya said.
He said those who would dare go against President Hichilema’s leadership and guidance on the need to reform public procurement would face consequences.
Mr. Bwalya said to stop public procurement fraud, President Hichilema has provided leadership and guidance.
“The President has guided that all public procurement of goods, services and works must comply and meet three basics which include right price, value for money and timely delivery of public goods, services and works,” he said.
Mr. Bwalya said to this effect cabinet has issued circular No. 4 of 2021 which compels all government procurement agencies, personal and controlling officers to comply with the guidance President Hichilema had guided.
He said there will be consequences if those in charge of procurement fail to comply with the circular.
