Director of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA), Edington Chilapondwa, has said 70 percent of the country’s budget is spent on procurement of goods and services.
According to Chilapondwa, there should be a deliberate move for the government to employ procurement officers in all government agencies and departments who are conversant with the procurement of goods and services as one way so that taxpayers’ money should not be wasted.
Chilapondwa disclosed this in Lilongwe when he was briefing journalists on the progress it has made in the first quarter of the financial year.
“It’s high time government institutions started recruiting qualified procurement officers to address gaps that exist in procurement processes,” Chilapondwa said.
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He said a lack of expertise in the procurement of goods and services by the government has led to stalled projects due to a lack of planning and variation of work, which in most cases leads to budget overlaps.
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“Some departments don’t have adequately qualified professionals there, affecting the performance of the procurement function of the departments,” he said.
He said the call is a step in the right direction towards ensuring that taxpayer money is spent wisely and that the government gets the goods and services it needs at the best possible price.
According to Chilapondwa, on staffing numbers, some government departments have inadequate staff members, with a number as low as one procurement personnel.
He explained that the procurement function is generally poorly profiled and ranked.
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He warned that it was an offence to let unqualified and unregistered officers perform the duties of procurement offices in government.
Chilapondwa, however, disclosed that for this current financial year, the compliance rate is at 64 percent, compared to 45 percent in the 2022–23 financial year.
He has disclosed that the authority is in the process of digitizing its processes to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of procurement processes, and that the authority has identified a supplier of the e-Procurement System and implementation is under way.
“The Malawi government has already secured funding for this project from the World Bank. This initiative signifies the Authority’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and innovation in procurement,” he said.
He also disclosed that the operations of the authority are fully dependent on the revenue that it collects from various sources, and a 1 percent procurement levy is among them.
He hinted that after noting shortfalls and emerging issues both on the local and international scene, the authority is undertaking a review of the PPD Act of 2017.
He said the authority, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, engaged a consultant to facilitate the review of the Act.
Meanwhile, economic commentator Velli Nyirongo has said Chilapondwa’s call for the government to employ qualified procurement officers in all government agencies and departments is a positive one.
“Procurement can also be a source of corruption and waste. This is why it is important for governments to have strong procurement systems and regulations in place. Qualified procurement officers are essential for ensuring that these systems and regulations are followed and that the government gets the best value for its money,” he said.
