Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) is working on expediting the gazetting of the electronic Government Procurement (eGP) system regulations, as part of broader efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in public procurement.
Officially launched by President Mnangagwa in October 2023, the eGP system became operational on 1 January 2024, to enable all public entities and bidders to conduct procurement activities electronically.
As one of the resolutions from the recent Praz 4th Annual Public Procurement Symposium that took place in Bulawayo, the authority said it will accelerate the gazetting of the system’s regulations.
The draft Public Procurement Disposal of Public Assets (General) (Amendment) Regulations, an amendment of the current PPDPA (General) Regulations, will focus on the provisions of the newly introduced eGP system.
In his closing remarks and resolutions at the Symposium on Tuesday, Praz chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Clever Ruswa, represented by Capacity Building director Mr Cliff Gondo, said the provisions of the eGP system regulations would be subsidiary legislation expanding on the provisions of the PPDPA Act (Chapter 22:23), specifically section 6(1)(e).
“We will expedite the gazetting of the eGP system regulations. They will speak to the nature and use of the system such as amongst other considerations, environmental, social and governance (ESG) consequences in bid evaluation. The regulations when approved will enhance transparency and accountability in public procurement, while they will also improve efficiency and effectiveness of procurement processes as well as further promote competition and fairness in the Zimbabwean procurement processes,” he said.
He said the draft amendment regulations aim to modernise and streamline public procurement processes in Zimbabwe.
Among other resolutions, Dr Ruswa said there was a need to intensify capacity building efforts, including exclusive training of accounting officers to appreciate the use of the eGP system.
He added: “There will be continuous enhancement of the eGP system to address issues raised by the users of the system. We will support sustainable procurements that are in sync with sustainable procurement goals as well as work with the Ministry of Skills Audit and Development to continuously improve other skills of procurement professionals in particular computer literacy skills.”
Dr Ruswa said they will continuously work with the Zimbabwe Gender Commission to reflect the gender balance within the procurement profession.
He encouraged procurement professionals to implement the strategies discussed during the two-day Symposium and continue fostering a spirit of collaboration as well as innovation in their work.
“Together, we can elevate the standards of procurement in Zimbabwe and contribute to the broader goals of our national vision. Let us look forward to the future with renewed vigour and a shared vision for sustainable and strategic procurement.”
A visiting Ghanaian expert emphasised that procurement was no longer just about compliance but was fast becoming a strategic function driven by technology, ethics and global supply chain dynamics.
Delivering a presentation titled “From Compliance to Strategy: The Evolution of Procurement Roles”, Ambassador Professor Robert Tay, Head of Procurement and Stores at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Ghana, said risk management had become a critical pillar in modern procurement.
“High-profile supply chain disruptions demonstrated that procurement decisions could have significant implications for business continuity and financial performance,” he said.
He noted that organisations were increasingly adopting risk assessment tools such as supplier financial analysis, supply chain mapping and contingency planning.
Amb Prof Tay said digital platforms were also transforming the procurement landscape by increasing efficiency and transparency.
“Cloud-based procurement platforms have democratised access to sophisticated procurement capabilities, enabling organisations of all sizes to implement best-in-class procurement processes,” he said.
He added that integrated tools for sourcing, contract and supplier management, along with procurement analytics, had improved visibility and control across organisations.
Amb Prof Tay said evolving expectations around ethics, transparency and sustainability were further expanding procurement’s role and visibility.
Zimbabwe Gender Commission Ceo, Mrs Virginia Muwanigwa said the imperative for diversity, equity and inclusion in procurement cannot be overstated.
“We need our procurement processes to be functioning very well and to be tailored to what we would want to see as a country. Procurement decisions influence how public resources are distributed and when diverse voices are excluded, it perpetuates systemic inequalities,” she said.
The two-day symposium was running under the theme: “Beyond Compliance: Strategic Thinking for the Modern Procurement Professional,” recognising procurement as a strategic pillar for effective and efficient service delivery.
derick.khumalo