Malawi Freedom Network 
By MFN Reporter
Suppliers and contractors who fail to register on Malawi’s National Electronic Procurement System (MANePS) risk losing access to government procurement opportunities, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) has warned.
PPDA Director General George Mankhwala said all suppliers and contractors have until December 31, 2026, to register on the electronic procurement platform ahead of its mandatory implementation on January 1, 2027.
Mankhwala made the announcement on Friday in Mzuzu during an orientation session on MANePS organised for journalists.
He said the system is designed to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability in public procurement while reducing opportunities for corruption and irregularities.
According to Mankhwala, the transition to electronic procurement will end reliance on traditional paper-based processes, requiring suppliers and contractors seeking government business to embrace the new system.
“Starting from January 1, 2027, suppliers who are still relying on paperwork will not be tolerated. Any public institution found tolerating such suppliers or contractors will be punished accordingly,” he said.
The warning signals a major shift in how government institutions engage suppliers and contractors, as the authority moves towards making electronic procurement the standard for public procurement transactions.
The December 31 registration deadline gives businesses a limited period to familiarise themselves with the platform and complete the necessary registration procedures to avoid disruptions when the new requirements take effect.
Meanwhile, Vice President of Nyika Media Club, Clementina Pondelani, welcomed the engagement between PPDA and journalists, saying the training would strengthen the media’s ability to report on public procurement.
Pondelani said the orientation would help journalists produce evidence-based stories on procurement-related challenges, including suspected malpractice in government institutions.
She noted that journalists have an important role in promoting transparency by investigating and documenting procurement processes involving public resources.
MANePS is expected to play a central role in modernising Malawi’s public procurement system, with its implementation placing greater emphasis on electronic transactions and compliance by suppliers, contractors and public institutions.
The effectiveness of the transition will depend on the readiness of businesses and government institutions to adopt the platform before the January 2027 deadline.
