Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
STAKEHOLDERS from Government, development agencies, academia, local authorities and the private sector have gathered in Bulawayo for the fifth Annual Public Procurement Symposium with discussions centred on using procurement as a tool for inclusive growth, transparency and sustainable economic transformation.
Organised by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), the two-day symposium is running under the theme “Public Procurement as a Strategic Catalyst: Driving Inclusion and Sustainable Economic Transformation.”
The meeting comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to strengthen procurement systems, improve accountability in public spending and expand opportunities for local businesses, women, youths and other special interest groups.
A key focus of the symposium is the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS), an internationally recognised framework used to evaluate the effectiveness of national procurement systems.
Findings from the assessment are expected to identify strengths and gaps within Zimbabwe’s procurement framework and guide future reforms.
Participants will also explore ways of increasing the participation of small and medium enterprises in public tenders, while promoting procurement practices that support social development objectives.
Digital transformation is another major theme, with discussions focusing on the expansion of electronic Government Procurement (eGP) systems to improve transparency, efficiency and accountability.
Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu is expected to officially open the symposium and deliver the keynote address.
The gathering is expected to produce recommendations aimed at strengthening procurement governance, improving value for money in public expenditure, supporting local enterprise development and accelerating the adoption of digital procurement platforms.
Public procurement is increasingly being viewed as a strategic instrument for economic development, with Government seeking to ensure public spending contributes to industrial growth, job creation and broader economic inclusion.
