Economy

Procurement authority bans two firms for one year over failure to execute education ministry contract

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The Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) has suspended Biogenix Limited and Leisely Howards Limited from participating in public procurement for one year each for failing to fulfil contractual obligations under supply contracts with the Ministry of Education.

The suspensions follow investigations launched by the Authority in September 2026, according to a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday by ZPPA Assistant Public Relations Officer Lucy Lumbe.

Biogenix Limited was suspended over a contract to supply and deliver laboratory equipment and reagents to 82 secondary schools under the World Bank-funded Zambia Education Enhancement Project (ZEEP).

ZPPA launched an investigation into the contract following a complaint from the Ministry of Education.

The Authority suspended Biogenix from participating in public procurement effective October 23, 2026, pursuant to sections 95(1) and 96(g) of the Public Procurement Act No. 8 of 2020.

“The Authority established that Biogenix Limited was paid an advance payment of K239,494.00 by the Ministry of Education, but Biogenix Limited did not deliver the goods during the contract period,” Lumbe said.

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Leisely Howards Limited was suspended over a K8.62 million contract, equivalent to US$332,791.54, for the supply and delivery of home economics equipment to schools funded under ZEEP.

Lumbe said the Ministry awarded the contract to the company in December 2024, with the supplier receiving a 25 percent advance payment of K2.16 million, equivalent to US$83,197.88, that month.

The contract had a delivery period of 12 to 16 weeks, but the company failed to deliver the goods within the stipulated period.

She said Leisely Howards made only partial deliveries in June and July 2025, after the contract had expired, adding that the items supplied did not meet the contract specifications and were rejected by the Ministry.

“Therefore, ZPPA has suspended Leisely Howards Limited from participating in public procurement, effective 22nd January 2027,” she said.

Lumbe said the company was already serving a one-year suspension arising from another tender process, which is due to end on January 22, 2027.

She said Section 6(h) of the Public Procurement Act mandates ZPPA to investigate and act on complaints relating to procurement proceedings received from procuring entities, bidders, suppliers or members of the public.

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