Institutes of Marketing, Purchasing move to weed out unqualified professionals

The Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) has issued a stern reminder to organizations and professionals across the country to comply with membership and qualification regulations under the Zambia Institute of Marketing Act No. 2 of 2022. At a media briefing in Lusaka to address non-compliance on Wednesday, ZIM Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Danny Chanda, emphasized that it was imperative for both public and private organizations to employ only qualified marketers registered with the institute.

Chanda warned that hiring unqualified personnel not only undermined the credibility of the profession but also exposed organizations to legal and reputational risks. “The institute is working closely with the Zambia Institute of Human Resources Management (ZIHRM) and employers to verify the qualifications of marketing staff. We urge all employers to consult our registry of qualified marketers before making hiring decisions.

He reminded members that ZIM would publish a list of compliant members in the press at the end of March, in accordance with the ZIM Act. “Any person not on that list will not be allowed to practice marketing in Zambia,” Chanda warned. Meanwhile, the Zambia Institute for Purchasing and Supply (ZIPS) has also called on both the Government and the private sector to ensure that procurement and purchasing professionals employed in their institutions were competent and duly registered with the regulator to protect the public interest.

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In a move aimed at strengthening compliance within the sector, ZIPS has established an enhanced inspection system involving the national compliance committee, the institute’s secretariat inspectorate unit and all 10 provincial chapters. ZIPS president, Daniel Kabamba, had warned that practitioners who fail to meet required standards or violate procurement regulations will face sanctions and may be publicly exposed. Speaking at the launch of the 2026 ZIPS national compliance inspections in Lusaka on Wednesday, Kabamba said inspection teams would be deployed across the country to enforce adherence to the law.

He reminded members that annual subscription fees must be paid by January 14 each year. Those who fail to meet this obligation are considered not to be in good standing and are liable to penalties under Part IV, Section 22 of the Act. “Procurement must remain at the centre of accountability and transparency, as it is essential for sustaining and strengthening donor confidence,” he said. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.

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