Determinants of Compliance with Public Procurement Laws and Regulations in Public Secondary Schools in Kabwe District, Zambia

Buumba Lumamba and Bupe Getrude Mutono-Mwanza
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Buumba Lumamba: Ohara Graduate School of Business, University of Zambia
Bupe Getrude Mutono-Mwanza: University of Zambia

African Journal of Commercial Studies, 2026, vol. 7, issue 3

Abstract: Public procurement systems are governed by laws and regulations designed to promote transparency, accountability, and value for money in the use of public resources. Despite these frameworks, compliance challenges remain prevalent in many public institutions. This study examined the determinants of compliance with public procurement laws and regulations in public secondary schools in Kabwe District, Zambia. Specifically, the study assessed the influence of awareness, professionalism, and ethical conduct on compliance. A quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected using structured questionnaires from 122 respondents selected through stratified random sampling, including head teachers, deputy head teachers, procurement officers, school accountants, heads of department, and Parent Teacher Association representatives. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and hypotheses were tested using the one-sample chi-square test at a 5% level of significance. The findings revealed that awareness alone did not have a statistically significant influence on compliance, whereas professionalism and ethical conduct exhibited a statistically significant positive effect. The study concludes that professional competence and ethical behavior are critical determinants of procurement compliance in public sector institutions. It recommends strengthening professional training, certification, and ethical oversight mechanisms within the education sector to enhance compliance with procurement regulations.

Keywords: Public procurement; Compliance; Awareness; Professionalism; Ethics; Zambia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D73 H57 M48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2026-75

DOI: 10.59413/ajocs/v7.i3.4

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