Malawi Parliament: MP Calls for Public Procurement Act Review

• Malawi's Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act came into force in March 2025, replacing the 2017 law, and was further amended in December 2024.
• Edward Chileka Banda, legislator for Lilongwe Mapuyu South, raised concerns about the procurement framework during the presentation of the Community Development Month Initiative (CDM).
• Lawyers advising clients on government contracts in Malawi should be aware of the changes to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act and adapt their strategies accordingly.
• The new Act and its amendments have significant implications for the way government contracts are awarded and managed in Malawi.

Following the presentation, Edward Chileka Banda used the opportunity to express his concerns about the existing procurement framework.

In a recent development in Malawi's Parliament, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha presented the Community Development Month Initiative (CDM). This initiative aims to encourage citizens to participate in community service within their localities. Following the presentation, Edward Chileka Banda, the legislator for Lilongwe Mapuyu South, took the opportunity to respond to the Minister's statement.

The CDM initiative is not directly related to the Public Procurement Act, but it has sparked discussion around the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act, which came into force in March 2025, replacing the 2017 law, and was further amended in December 2024. In Parliament, Edward Chileka Banda used the opportunity to express his concerns about the existing procurement framework. This move could have significant implications for lawyers advising clients on government contracts in Malawi.

The recent enactment of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act in March 2025 and its amendment in December 2024 are crucial developments that impact the way government contracts are awarded and managed in Malawi. These changes to the Act affect various stakeholders, including lawyers who advise clients on government contracts. It is essential for all parties involved to closely monitor developments and adapt their strategies accordingly.

Lawyers advising clients on government contracts in Malawi should watch for potential changes to the Public Procurement Act, as a Ministerial Statement has called for its review.

Source: Original reporting via Nation Online