Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
THE Government has amplified calls for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives to actively participate in public procurement, positioning the process as a strategic driver of national development, inclusive growth and Vision 2030 attainment.
Speaking at the 5th Annual Public Procurement Conference held in Victoria Falls recently, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Monica Mutsvangwa, said public procurement must no longer be viewed as a mere administrative function of Government but as a powerful instrument for job creation, local production and economic transformation.
“The conference theme rightly places emphasis on digital innovation and strategic partnerships. In this regard, our quest to enhance digital procurement must be guided by principles of inclusivity, transparency and accountability to ensure that our public procurement systems remain instruments for creating opportunities for all enterprises,” she said.
The conference, convened by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) in partnership with the Southern Africa Public Procurement Training Academy (SAPPTA), ran under the theme: “Public Procurement for National Development: Leveraging Digital Innovation, Artificial Intelligence and Strategic Partnerships for Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth.”
Minister Mutsvangwa emphasised that MSMEs and cooperatives are central to Zimbabwe’s economic transformation agenda, contributing approximately 60 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product and providing employment to over 75 percent of the workforce.
“The country has 11 thousand registered cooperative societies with an estimated 3 million members. With over 56 percent of MSMEs being women-owned, it is imperative that our procurement systems promote inclusive participation and create meaningful opportunities for women, youth and other marginalised groups to contribute to and benefit from national development,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa revealed that the recently held MSMEs and Cooperatives Indaba provided a timely platform for engaging directly with enterprises and bringing to the fore key procurement-related challenges they face.
“MSMEs and cooperatives want fair access to public procurement opportunities, not just awareness of tender announcements. Capacity gaps, including compliance, documentation, pricing, quality assurance and contract management, remain key barriers to sustained participation. Many enterprises are ready to supply, but require structured supplier development, mentorship and predictable engagement,” she said.
She added that women-led enterprises and cooperatives often face greater constraints around finance, logistics, market linkages and risk, hence procurement must consider inclusion as a design principle rather than an afterthought.
“This is the bridge we must cross today, from policy dialogue to procurement systems that deliberately create opportunities for MSMEs and cooperatives, particularly women and youth, to participate meaningfully in the economy,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
She commended PRAZ and SAPPTA for convening the platform, which brought together policymakers, regulators, procurement practitioners and industry leaders to collectively reflect on how public procurement can be better aligned with national development priorities.
She also congratulated PRAZ Chief Executive Officer Dr Clever Ruswa on two notable achievements: the successful attainment of his PhD from the Chinhoyi University of Technology and his recognition as Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply (CIPS) Africa Leader of the Year.
“These are significant milestones which bring credit not only to him personally, but also to the institution he leads and the important work it continues to undertake in strengthening public procurement in Zimbabwe,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to working closely with PRAZ in advancing a procurement ecosystem that creates meaningful opportunities for MSMEs and cooperatives to participate, grow, compete and contribute to Zimbabwe’s economic development.
“The Ministry will continue to advance the development of MSMEs and cooperatives by strengthening enterprise development programmes, enhancing governance, skills and business capacity, and improving access to finance and markets,” she said.
She called upon Procurement Management Units and institutional procurement structures to ensure that public procurement becomes an enabler rather than a barrier to the participation of SMEs and cooperatives.
“Together, let us build a modern, transparent, ethical and inclusive public procurement ecosystem that accelerates NDS2 implementation, advances the attainment of Vision 2030, and leaves no one and no place behind,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
The conference also featured speakers from South Africa, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, accounting officers, procurement professionals, private sector representatives, entrepreneurs, cooperatives, youth-owned businesses and exhibitors.
