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E-procurement on the cards, says authority

Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) has unveiled plans to introduce e-procurement to seal potential gaps for collusion and corruption in the procurement process.

PPDA director general Elias Hausi said in an interview on Friday in Mangochi that e-procurement—a system in which all procurement processes up to payment are automated—reduces human interface, enhances transparency and minimises corruption in procurement and supply chain management.

Hausi: It will reduce human interface

“In the first place, we are going to enhance our website to be used as a portal where procuring entities can deposit their invitation for bids so that everybody should be able to see them online to achieve greater transparency.

“The electronic system will link procuring entities and reduce human interface because procurement decisions are going to be made based on data and not a person,” he said.

Hausi said that currently, the World Bank, which is funding the project, is in the process of identifying a consultant to work on the operationalisation of the project expected to roll out next year.

Malawi Institute of Procurement and Supply (Mips) president Joseph Ngalawa said e-procurement would ensure all procurements in public and private sectors are transparent.

“At the moment, most companies are not up to date in terms of embracing digital technology, but this is the direction we want to take. The traditional way of buying goods to some extent fuels corruption and some fraudulent actions,” he said.

Elsewhere on the continent, Rwanda broke the myth by successfully pioneering e-procurement.

Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda have also successfully implement e-procurement to reduce cases of corruption.

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