Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THE Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) will host the 5th General Assembly (FiGA) of the African Public Procurement Network (APPN) in Victoria Falls from November 11 to 14.
Running under the theme *“Transforming Public Procurement in Africa through Innovation, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Regional Collaboration,”* the conference will bring together procurement leaders, policymakers, and development partners from across the continent.
APPN President and PRAZ Chief Executive Officer, Dr Clever Ruswa, said Zimbabwe is honoured to host such a high-level event.
“Zimbabwe is honoured to welcome Africa’s procurement leaders to share experiences, explore innovations, and chart a unified path toward sustainable procurement excellence,” he said.
The event seeks to accelerate APPN’s mission to transform procurement systems across Africa by leveraging technology, promoting inclusion of women, youth, and small enterprises, and integrating sustainability into public spending.
The Government of Zimbabwe will coordinate the event in partnership with the APPN Technical Secretariat and development partners, including the African Development Bank, World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Islamic Development Bank.
The assembly will include high-level sessions, expert presentations, and governance deliberations, including the election of new APPN leadership.
Dr Ruswa said hosting the conference marks a significant milestone for Zimbabwe and the continent in advancing transparent and efficient procurement systems.
“As the current APPN President, Zimbabwe’s hosting of this event reflects its leadership in driving procurement reforms and spearheading digital transformation through the Electronic Government Procurement (eGP) system,” he said.
He added that the gathering will provide a platform to strengthen procurement frameworks, enhance institutional capacity, and promote accountability in public procurement.
“Public procurement represents about 17 percent of GDP across African countries. Recognising its importance, 43 nations formed the APPN in Lomé, Togo, in 2018 as a collaborative platform for peer learning and regional cooperation,” said Dr Ruswa.
He noted that digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics can boost transparency and efficiency, while inclusion and sustainability ensure equitable growth and climate-conscious development.
“The fifth general assembly will yield tangible outcomes — including stronger regional collaboration, sharing of innovative practices, and adoption of an updated regional action plan and governance framework to guide the network’s next phase,” said Dr Ruswa.
He reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to building procurement systems that drive sustainable development.
Peter Tanyanyiwa