ZIPS AND ZIHRM COLLABORATE

The ZIPS President Mr Chibwe D MWELWA, on 13th February, 2020 initiated and led the ZIPS delegation comprising of the ZIPS Council Member, Mrs Phedlia Mwaba, the Registrar Mr Henry Chanda and the Education and Membership Manager Mr Inambao Wakwinji in meeting The Council and Management of Zambia Institute Resources Management (ZIHRM). The meeting was fruitful and addressed the following issues:

1.0 ZIPS OBSERVATION - COMPLIANCE TO THE ZIPS ACT

The ZIPS President stated that Zambia as a country hinges on procurement and that the sustainability of Fiscal Consolidation of the economy is dependent on prudent procurement practices and so it was important for professional employed to undertake this important function to be qualified and regulated as provided for in the ZIPS Act No. 15 of 2003.

Mr. Mwelwa outlined the role of the courtesy call on ZIHRM and stated how important the Human Resources Function was in developing Zambia and how critical the acquisition of skilled manpower contributes to the development of  the nation.

TMr Mwelwa stated that the enforcement of ZIPS Act was meant to ensure that only qualified personal in Procurement and stores were engaged to carry out the function of Supply Chain Management and that this has to be adhered to by the Human Resources Department

The following was discussed and agreed.

2. COLLABORATION OF ZIPS AND ZIHRM

In a bid seal the gaps identified ZIPS and ZIRM would define how they would help each other in the attainment of the Institution’s goals and objectives as they contribute to the National Development.  ZIPS and ZIRHM were looking forward to a partnership through signing of a Memorandum of understanding.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to underpin this corporation.

a) The MOU would seek to ensure that only the right qualified people were employed to carry out the function of the Supply Chain. It was noted that when the right people are employed in the right offices in procurement and stores officers, this would translate into the value addition and development of our nation.

b)That the Human Resources department in all Institutions shall make sure that all adverts for procurement an stores jobs follow the provision of the ZIPS Act

c)To ensure that all interviews relating to Procurement and Stores in this nation are witnessed by the Zambia Institute of Purchasing and supply personnel to ensure that right people are employed

3 ZIHRM OBSERVATION

ZIHRM was pleased with the steps ZIPS had taken to foster development in the country.  The ZIHRM President Mr. Mooka Silumbu spoke on behalf of the ZIHRM Council stated that The formation of ZIPS brought a lot of sanity in the Supply Chain Profession in Zambia. He cited the introduction of the Diploma in Purchasing and Supply as a step in the right direction and ZIHRM would emulate how they would also start offering training.

Mr Silumbu stated that ZIPS and ZIRHM needed to work together and to ensure that the two professions were recognized like it was with Finance ( ZICA)

Mr Silumbu said that ZIHRM concentrates on recruiting, managing and directing people professionally. He further stated that ZIHRM took full reasonability for employing professionals who were not qualified to undertake the Procurement function. Mr Silumbu mentioned that some of the reasons which contributed to Human Resources professionals recruiting unqualified personnel in the procurement positions was due to lack of unclear guidelines from professional bodies like ZIPS but hoped that the MOU would address some of these challenges.

4 TASKFORCE TO DRAW THE TOR FOR THE MOU

The two Institutions agreed to immediately form a working Task Force to put to paper the content of the MOU. The Task Force was immediately created and tasked to started work:

The MOU will cover some of the areas

I.          Training and Workshops (CPDs)

II.          Conferences

III.         Introduction of joint inspections

IV.        Sensitization and demand for professionalism

V.        Supply Chain Qualification and ZIPS membership affiliation should be a must for any procurement position

VI.        Ensure that ZIPS representative is present each time an interview is conducted

Issued by

ZIPS Secretariat

26th February 2020