Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
THE establishment of the Independent review and debarment committees was a deliberate and strategic move by the Government to instil fairness, transparency and accountability in public procurement, Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) chief executive officer, Mr Clever Ruswa, has said.
Mr Ruswa was speaking at a Kadoma hotel on Tuesday during a training workshop for the newly appointed members of the two committees.
The PRAZ CEO said the establishment of the two committees was never an administrative afterthought, as it is the very bedrock upon which public trust is built and the framework through which the Authority ensures that every dollar of public funds is spent wisely, efficiently and for the ultimate benefit of the people of Zimbabwe.
According to the Public Procurement And Disposal Of Public Assets Act [Chapter 22:23], a potential or actual bidder in procurement proceedings who claims to have suffered, or to be likely to suffer, loss or injury due to a breach of a duty imposed on a procuring entity by or under this Act, may challenge the procurement proceedings by lodging a written notice with the procuring entity and the matter will be heard by the review committee and in terms of Section 69 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (General) Regulations, 2018, the Authority is empowered, on the recommendations from a Procuring Entity or the Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Authority, following an investigation carried out by the department to debar or black list a bidder or contractor guilty of prohibited conduct from engaging in any public procurement or disposal process for a period determined by the Authority.
Notice to suspended or debarred bidder or contractor shall be made in writing in terms of Section 75 of the Procurement Regulations.
“To our Independent Review Panelists, you are the final arbiters in the procurement review process. You are not advisors, you are adjudicators. Your decisions have the power to correct irregularities, to affirm due process, and to uphold the sanctity of the law.
You serve as a vital check and balance, ensuring all procuring entities adhere to the highest standards of conduct,” said Mr Ruswa.
He said the debarment committee wields a different but equally profound authority, saying they are the guardians of the market’s integrity.
“Your solemn duty is to protect the public purse by ensuring that only reputable, ethical, and competent entities participate in our national procurement.
The power to debar is a weighty one as it safeguards the system from bad actors and sends an unambiguous message that malpractice will not be tolerated and will carry severe consequences,” said Mr Ruswa.
