OTESA welcomes Hendrina Kapolo as procurement and tendering manager
OTESA has announced the appointment of Hendrina Kapolo as its new procurement and tendering manager, strengthening the organisation’s leadership capacity in procurement governance, compliance and operational efficiency within complex civil engineering environments.
Kapolo brings over seventeen years of experience across procurement, warehouse management, compliance, finance and systems coordination. She gained this expertise primarily within the mining sector and large-scale industrial operations, where robust governance, regulatory compliance and cost control are critical.
Her career began in commercial and supply chain roles, where she built a solid foundation in procurement operations, contract management, and cost management. She later advanced into senior and specialised positions encompassing procurement management, legal and compliance oversight, as well as HR and payroll administration.
This extensive cross-functional experience has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of governance, risk management and operational efficiency, positioning her well to support OTESA’s project delivery requirements and long-term strategic objectives.
Transparency and excellence
Commenting on her appointment, Kapolo said the role strongly aligns with her professional background and interests. OTESA’s involvement in complex civil engineering projects, together with its focus on structured governance, transparency and operational excellence, were key factors in her decision to join the organisation.
“In a civil engineering environment, procurement and tendering are central to successful project delivery,” she said. “They ensure that projects are delivered efficiently, cost-effectively and in compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements, while also managing commercial risk and ensuring value for money.”
Over the next six to twelve months, Kapolo will focus on reviewing and strengthening OTESA’s procurement and tendering frameworks, improving standardisation and documentation, enhancing supplier due diligence and performance monitoring, and aligning procurement activities more closely with project delivery schedules and organisational priorities.
She emphasised that procurement and tendering are not only operational functions but also strategic enablers. When effectively managed, procurement supports improved cost control, compliance, risk mitigation, and timely project execution, while contributing to sustainability, long-term supplier partnerships, and greater operational certainty.
Well-governed enterprise
Kapolo’s vision for OTESA’s procurement function is to establish a robust, transparent, and well-governed procurement environment, underpinned by clear policies, defined processes, consistent tender evaluation practices, and data-driven decision-making.
She further advocates for a value-for-money approach that balances cost efficiency with quality, compliance, and ethical sourcing. This approach considers supplier capability, compliance history, ethical standards, and whole-of-life costs to ensure sustainable procurement outcomes.
To promote transparency and accountability, she highlighted the importance of clearly documented procurement policies, segregation of duties, and objective evaluation criteria, comprehensive audit trails, supplier due diligence, and regular internal audits, supported by continuous training and awareness initiatives.
Looking ahead, Kapolo sees opportunities to enhance procurement value through the greater use of digital procurement systems, structured supplier performance management tools and improved reporting and analytics. She also noted that strong supplier relationship management will be critical in driving long-term value, innovation, and risk mitigation.
OTESA welcomed Kapolo’s appointment and expressed confidence that her expertise and leadership will further strengthen the organisation’s procurement and tendering capability in support of its strategic and operational goals.
