ZAMBIA Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) Director General Idah Chella says the authority is no longer responsible for the issuance of ‘No Objection’ to direct bid, contrary to some findings in the latest Auditor General’s report. The Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts for the Financial Year ended 31st December 2021 revealed that the continued issuance of “No Objection” to direct bid in over five consecutive farming seasons by ZPPA was questionable in that the Ministry of Agriculture could have commenced the procurement processes early as the season for planting was known. But commenting on this in an interview, Chella said the inputs had never been on direct bid as there had always been an open bid. “The inputs have never...