By Yankho Kandio

Salima, March 26, Mana: Experts in Malawi’s construction sector have called for improved procurement processes to enhance infrastructure quality and curb corruption.

Speaking during a National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) training on Tuesday in Salima, NCIC Chief Executive Officer Gerald Khonje emphasized the need for stakeholders to understand the complexities of procurement in construction.

“Unlike buying ready made goods, construction procurement involves hiring experts to oversee an entire process, from design to execution. If you get the wrong person, you get the wrong product,” Khonje said.

He pointed out that some public projects have failed due to poor planning, lack of expertise, or corruption.

He, therefore, urged stakeholders to adhere to NCIC’s Code of Ethics, which provides guidelines on professional conduct.

The training brought together representatives from key institutions, including the Reserve Bank of Malawi, World Vision, ESCOM, Water Boards and Malawi Housing Corporation, to discuss best practices in procurement and consultancy selection.

World Vision’s Governance and Partnership Specialist, Innocent Pendame, highlighted how procurement inefficiencies can compromise the quality of infrastructure projects.

“To deliver quality projects, we must ensure that integrity is at the heart of procurement. Fraud and corruption destroy infrastructure and put lives at risk,” he said.

Atikonda Mtenje Mkochi from the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) described procurement as a complex process requiring strict accountability in resource management.

The training sought to equip stakeholders with knowledge on procurement best practices, ethical standards, and policy compliance to ensure sustainable infrastructure development in Malawi.