Africa-Press – Malawi. The Malawi Institute of Purchasing and Supply (Mips) has warned that practitioners who are not registered with the institute will face sanctions. Speaking in an interview on Wednesday in Lilongwe at the beginning of a three-day corporate governance training, Mips Board Chairperson David Ng’onamo said institutions must also ensure that they employ registered procurement officers.
“We have put in place mechanisms to ensure that the requirement is adhered to by both procurement officers and the organisations that employ them.
“We are mandated by law to ensure that our members conduct themselves professionally; that is why the officers must be registered if we are to effectively play that oversight role,” Ng’onamo said.
He said non-compliant practitioners would be served with a demand letter giving them 14 days to comply but, if ignored, Mips would commence legal action against the practitioners.
One of Mips’ senior managers Rhitta Kasalika said a lot has been done to increase awareness of the role of the institute among practitioners and the public.
About 75 percent of the national budget is spent on procurement of goods, services and works. This implies that about K1.4 trillion of the 2021- 2022 National budget will be spent by procurement managers.
The three-day training offered a platform for participants to explore and discuss concepts and contemporary issues affecting the profession and how they can be managed to improve service delivery.
Through the Mips Act of 2016, the institute is mandated to provide direct oversight of procurement and supply chain management which include promoting professional standards and practice among procurement and supply chain professionals; ensuring transparency, integrity, accountability and fairness on all matters of procurement.
