Determinants of Electronic Government Procurement Adoption in Local Government: Evidence from Lusaka City Council, Zambia

Abstract

The adoption of Electronic Government Procurement (EGP) systems has become a central pillar of public sector modernisation worldwide. The study addresses the limited empirical evidence on EGP adoption at local-authority level in Zambia and extends technology-adoption research by integrating user, institutional, and managerial perspectives. Drawing on qualitative data from seventeen purposively selected participants across procurement, finance, ICT, audit, legal, and administration departments, the study employs thematic analysis to surface four principal barriers: inadequate ICT infrastructure, limited staff digital competencies, organisational resistance to change, and gaps in regulatory enforcement. The findings further demonstrate that management support, expressed through resource allocation, policy directives, and visible leadership engagement, constitutes the most decisive determinant of adoption outcomes. The article concludes with a suite of evidence-based strategies encompassing structured capacity building, phased infrastructure investment, enforceable compliance mandates, and comprehensive stakeholder engagement, providing actionable guidance for policymakers and institutional leaders in Zambia and comparable developing-country contexts.