Question
1. Diamond TV reported sometime this year in August 2025 Councilors in Livingstone boycotted the handover ceremony of refuse truck alleging that the vehicle was expensive at its total cost of K 2 million. The CDF funds for this purchase as from the CDF.
(a) Discuss the composition of the Constituent Development Procurement Committee? 4 marks
(b) If the Constituent Development Procurement Committee was proactive how could they avoided this problem at hand? 5 marks
(c) Based on the knowledge acquired in Public Procurement how can this matter resolved? 6 marks
with referneces
(a) Discuss the composition of the Constituent Development Procurement Committee? 4 marks
(b) If the Constituent Development Procurement Committee was proactive how could they avoided this problem at hand? 5 marks
(c) Based on the knowledge acquired in Public Procurement how can this matter resolved? 6 marks
with referneces
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### (a) Composition of the Constituency Development Procurement Committee (CDPC)
The Constituency Development Procurement Committee (CDPC) generally consists of a diverse range of members to ensure proper representation and oversight in the procurement process. The typical composition may include:
1. **Political Appointees**: This can include the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the constituency, who serves as the chairperson of the committee.
2. **Local Government Representatives**: Members from the local council or municipality may be included to provide input related to local governance and community needs.
3. **Community Representatives**: Typically, there are representatives from various community interest groups, including women’s groups, youth organizations, and other local organizations to ensure that the procurement reflects the needs of the constituency.
4. **Technical Experts**: Professionals with expertise in procurement, finance, or relevant sectors may be included to provide technical guidance and ensure compliance with procurement regulations.
5. **Civil Society Representatives**: Representatives from civil society organizations can be included to add an additional layer of oversight and promote transparency and accountability in the procurement process.
### (b) Proactive Measures by the Constituency Development Procurement Committee to Avoid Issues
If the Constituency Development Procurement Committee had been proactive, they could have taken several measures to avoid the current issue surrounding the refuse truck's cost:
1. **Conducting Market Research**: Prior to purchasing, conducting thorough market research to benchmark the expected costs of similar refuse trucks could help establish a fair price and counter potential accusations of inflation.
2. **Stakeholder Consultation**: Engaging stakeholders, including community members and local leaders, early in the procurement process could help assess the community's needs, priorities, and budgetary constraints. This would create transparency and mitigate potential resistance.
3. **Value for Money Analysis**: Implementing a rigorous analysis of the value for money involved in purchasing the refuse truck would help justify its price. The committee could assess factors beyond cost, such as durability and maintenance requirements.
4. **Transparent Procurement Processes**: Ensuring that the procurement process is transparent, including publishing bid documents and the rationale for selecting a particular vendor, may contribute to reducing skepticism.
5. **Training and Capacity Building**: Training committee members on best practices in procurement would enhance their understanding and ability to make informed decisions that reflect accountability and good governance.
### (c) Resolving the Issue Based on Public Procurement Principles
To resolve the challenges related to the refuse truck procurement in Livingstone, the following public procurement principles and practices can be applied:
1. **Independent Review**: An independent review of the procurement process could clarify the decision-making steps and provide an objective opinion on the fairness and appropriateness of the truck’s price. This could involve third-party audits or reviews.
2. **Community Engagement**: Holding public forums or meetings to explain the procurement process, the reasons for the cost, and allowing community members to voice their concerns can foster trust and understanding among constituents.
3. **Amend Procurement Practices**: Revising procurement practices to incorporate clearer guidelines on transparency, competition, and documentation can prevent similar issues from arising in future procurements. Implementing systems for feedback and complaints can also contribute to continuous improvement.
4. **Adjust Procurement Policies**: If the price is deemed unreasonable following a proper review, the committee can consider renegotiating the purchase terms with the supplier or exploring the possibility of rescinding the procurement in favor of a more competitively priced option.
5. **Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms**: Establishing rigorous accountability mechanisms within the procurement process, including regular audits and public disclosures of procurement details, can help deter future misconduct and build a culture of accountability.
6. **Training and Capacity Building**: Investing in training programs for committee members around ethical procurement practices and community engagement can enhance their competencies and ability to make informed decisions moving forward.
### References:
- **Zambia Public Procurement Act**: Reviewing the specific legal framework that governs public procurement in Zambia.
- **World Bank Procurement Guidelines**: Consider general guidelines and best practices outlined by the World Bank for public procurement to ensure transparency and accountability.
- **United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)**: Guidance on combating corruption in public procurement, which can be applied at local levels.
These references provide additional insights into best practices and frameworks that can guide procurement processes to align with transparency, value for money, and community needs.
The Constituency Development Procurement Committee (CDPC) generally consists of a diverse range of members to ensure proper representation and oversight in the procurement process. The typical composition may include:
1. **Political Appointees**: This can include the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the constituency, who serves as the chairperson of the committee.
2. **Local Government Representatives**: Members from the local council or municipality may be included to provide input related to local governance and community needs.
3. **Community Representatives**: Typically, there are representatives from various community interest groups, including women’s groups, youth organizations, and other local organizations to ensure that the procurement reflects the needs of the constituency.
4. **Technical Experts**: Professionals with expertise in procurement, finance, or relevant sectors may be included to provide technical guidance and ensure compliance with procurement regulations.
5. **Civil Society Representatives**: Representatives from civil society organizations can be included to add an additional layer of oversight and promote transparency and accountability in the procurement process.
### (b) Proactive Measures by the Constituency Development Procurement Committee to Avoid Issues
If the Constituency Development Procurement Committee had been proactive, they could have taken several measures to avoid the current issue surrounding the refuse truck's cost:
1. **Conducting Market Research**: Prior to purchasing, conducting thorough market research to benchmark the expected costs of similar refuse trucks could help establish a fair price and counter potential accusations of inflation.
2. **Stakeholder Consultation**: Engaging stakeholders, including community members and local leaders, early in the procurement process could help assess the community's needs, priorities, and budgetary constraints. This would create transparency and mitigate potential resistance.
3. **Value for Money Analysis**: Implementing a rigorous analysis of the value for money involved in purchasing the refuse truck would help justify its price. The committee could assess factors beyond cost, such as durability and maintenance requirements.
4. **Transparent Procurement Processes**: Ensuring that the procurement process is transparent, including publishing bid documents and the rationale for selecting a particular vendor, may contribute to reducing skepticism.
5. **Training and Capacity Building**: Training committee members on best practices in procurement would enhance their understanding and ability to make informed decisions that reflect accountability and good governance.
### (c) Resolving the Issue Based on Public Procurement Principles
To resolve the challenges related to the refuse truck procurement in Livingstone, the following public procurement principles and practices can be applied:
1. **Independent Review**: An independent review of the procurement process could clarify the decision-making steps and provide an objective opinion on the fairness and appropriateness of the truck’s price. This could involve third-party audits or reviews.
2. **Community Engagement**: Holding public forums or meetings to explain the procurement process, the reasons for the cost, and allowing community members to voice their concerns can foster trust and understanding among constituents.
3. **Amend Procurement Practices**: Revising procurement practices to incorporate clearer guidelines on transparency, competition, and documentation can prevent similar issues from arising in future procurements. Implementing systems for feedback and complaints can also contribute to continuous improvement.
4. **Adjust Procurement Policies**: If the price is deemed unreasonable following a proper review, the committee can consider renegotiating the purchase terms with the supplier or exploring the possibility of rescinding the procurement in favor of a more competitively priced option.
5. **Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms**: Establishing rigorous accountability mechanisms within the procurement process, including regular audits and public disclosures of procurement details, can help deter future misconduct and build a culture of accountability.
6. **Training and Capacity Building**: Investing in training programs for committee members around ethical procurement practices and community engagement can enhance their competencies and ability to make informed decisions moving forward.
### References:
- **Zambia Public Procurement Act**: Reviewing the specific legal framework that governs public procurement in Zambia.
- **World Bank Procurement Guidelines**: Consider general guidelines and best practices outlined by the World Bank for public procurement to ensure transparency and accountability.
- **United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)**: Guidance on combating corruption in public procurement, which can be applied at local levels.
These references provide additional insights into best practices and frameworks that can guide procurement processes to align with transparency, value for money, and community needs.