Judith Phiri, [email protected]
THE Procurement Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) has said the Public Procurement Summit 2026 is set to strengthen public procurement oversight in Zimbabwe through the adoption of digital technologies aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability and value for money in public sector procurement processes.
Scheduled for November 18 to 19 in Bulawayo, the event running under the theme “Strengthening Public Procurement Oversight in the Digital Era: Enhancing Accountability, Transparency and Value for Money through Digital Transformation,” is expected to bring together key stakeholders in public procurement, Government institutions, policymakers and industry players to deliberate on strategies of improving procurement governance.
Responding to inquiries from this publication, PRAZ chief executive officer, Dr Clever Ruswa said this year, the summit puts digital oversight at the centre of the discussion.
“It moves beyond general debate about procurement governance to examine how auditors can scrutinise electronic procurement platforms, digital audit trails, cybersecurity controls and procurement data. It also brings auditors, procurement practitioners, ICT specialists, policymakers and anti-corruption agencies into the same conversation,” he said.
“The programme is designed to turn discussion into practical follow-through, including recommendations, action plans and a network for continued collaboration. Public procurement is a critical component of public financial management, accounting for a significant proportion of Government expenditure.”
He said effective and well-governed procurement systems are essential for promoting value for money, transparency, competition, accountability and efficient delivery of public services.
Dr Ruswa said the increasing adoption of the end-to-end Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) systems which began operating on 1 January 2024 is transforming public procurement processes through the digitalisation of procurement planning, tendering, contract management, supplier registration and payment processes.
While digitalisation presents significant opportunities to enhance efficiency, transparency and accountability, it also introduces new risks and challenges.
“These developments require auditors and other procurement oversight practitioners to strengthen their competencies in areas such as auditing automated systems, data analytics, cybersecurity controls and digital audit trails,” he added.
“Against this background, the summit will examine emerging trends, challenges and innovations in public procurement oversight. It will also provide a platform for sharing practical experiences, good practices and approaches to auditing and overseeing public procurement in both traditional and increasingly digital environments.”
Dr Ruswa said procurement is where public budgets are converted into goods, services and infrastructure and oversight therefore has a direct bearing on how many is used.
He said the Summit aligns with the Government’s National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030 objectives.
“It supports stronger governance and accountability while advancing digitalisation, more efficient public services and an improved business environment.
“Transparent, fair and competitive procurement also strengthens confidence among businesses and suppliers while helping public institutions to make better use of limited resources,” said Dr Ruswa.
He said the 2026 to 2030 performance framework records show a very good uptake of eGP utilisation baseline for 2025 and sets phased targets, rising to full adoption by 2030, and the broader ambition is the full implementation and adoption of the system.
Dr Ruswa said digital procurement has reduced paperwork, travel, printing and the time spent moving documents between offices. “Standardised online processes have made it easier for suppliers to find opportunities, submit bids and receive updates, while helping procurement entities manage their processes more efficiently.
“Our oversight role has been strengthened. Now that tender notices, submissions, decisions and contract information are recorded electronically, auditors have a clearer trail to examine,” he added.
“Procurement data is being analysed to identify warning signs such as repeated awards to the same supplier, unusual pricing, shared procurements or patterns suggesting collusion.”
Dr Ruswa said digitalisation is not by itself a guarantee against corruption as its impact depends on reliable systems, secure access, complete and accurate data, transparent publication and effective follow-up when risks are detected.
