Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
THE Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) says it will intensify efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability and integrity in public procurement while implementing practical safeguards to combat fraud and corruption risks.
Speaking at the Fifth Annual Public Procurement Symposium underway in Bulawayo, PRAZ chief executive officer Dr Clever Ruswa said the authority was committed to addressing governance challenges directly to strengthen public confidence in procurement systems.
“We will strengthen transparency, accountability, and integrity in procurement. We will confront transparency and integrity concerns directly because integrity is the foundation of public trust,” he said.
Dr Ruswa said effective oversight and audit mechanisms were essential in protecting public resources and ensuring procurement processes remained credible.
“Oversight and audit mechanisms must be effective, and procurement processes must be open, fair, and credible.
“We will also continue to address fraud and corruption risks with practical safeguards, not assumptions.”
He said PRAZ was also accelerating the adoption of technology to modernise procurement systems and improve efficiency across public institutions.
“We will promote digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. Procurement modernisation is no longer optional.
“E-procurement through the eGP system, digital documentation, Artificial Intelligence inclusion, and data analytics improve efficiency, traceability, and transparency, while reducing opportunities for malpractice.”
Dr Ruswa said the authority expected the symposium to produce practical solutions that would strengthen procurement systems and improve service delivery.
“PRAZ has convened this Symposium to strengthen systems, not to merely exchange views.
“Our role is to provide leadership, regulatory direction, and technical guidance, so that the outcomes translate into measurable improvements.”
The two-day symposium, being held under the theme “Public Procurement as a Strategic Catalyst: Driving Inclusion and Sustainable Economic Transformation,” has drawn Government officials, local authorities, development partners, academics and private sector representatives.
Participants are discussing ways to improve governance, compliance, digital transformation and accountability in public procurement, with a focus on ensuring public resources deliver greater value for money and contribute to sustainable economic development.
