Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) has called on the Roads Authority (RA)to improve on its planning to enable timely procurement processes and approvals for road construction projects.

Speaking yesterday when he addressed the Parliamentary Committee on Commission, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises on delays to rehabilitate the M1, PPDA director general Edington Chilapondwa said the authority gets blamed for delays in issuing no objections when it is the RA that delays in making submissions for procurement of contractors and consultants.

Chilapondwa: Speed up the processfrom PPDA list: Chilapondwa

He said ideally, the RA should make submissions as early as June so that construction works start by August.

Said Chilapondwa: “The Roads Authority should ensure proper planning of its procurements as this will allow for procurement processes to start as early as possible.”

He observed that Roads Authority made submissions for the M1 Road rehabilitation in November and PPDA sent back some of them because they violated some requirements.

Parliamentary committee chairperson Bintony Kutsaira called on institutions involved in public procurement and approvals to ensure speedy processes.

Last week, the Roads Fund Administration (RFA) said it has reserved K17.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the M1.

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