Story by Tichaona Kurewa
Vice President General Rtd Dr Constantino Chiwenga has announced the establishment of the Southern Africa Public Procurement Training Academy at the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM) to enhance skills for procurement officials in the region.
The announcement was made this Monday at the official opening of the 4th Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) public procurement conference official opening ceremony in Victoria Falls this Monday.
The government is making various efforts to improve the procurement systems in Zimbabwe including the electronic government procurement system which went live at the beginning of the year.
In a similar vein, the government has now moved to sharpen the human capital to complement other efforts aimed at fostering value for money in the procurement sector.
“I am excited to announce the establishment of the Southern Africa Public Procurement Training Academy at the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM) and also online Developed from a comprehensive training needs analysis, this academy will serve as a hub for knowledge sharing and capacity building, providing training and resources to procurement professionals across the region.
“This investment in human capital lays the foundation for a more robust procurement environment. I would also like to commend our collaborative efforts with the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization in developing the training modules. These modules promote the professional development of individuals engaged in public procurement, ensuring adherence to high ethical standards. Local universities and professionals have been incorporated to conduct the training. Well done to the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe!,” he said.
Vice President Chiwenga also indicated that the government is also amending the Procurement Act to match modern standards.
“The Government is currently engaged in amending the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act to address existing challenges and align our legislation with international best practices. Refining the legal framework will further enhance, transparency and accountability ensuring that our procurement processes are not only efficient but also fair and equitable for all stakeholders,” he added.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Richard Moyo underscored the importance of procurement to economic development and training of stakeholders to adopt e-procurement were also underscored.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is not just an agreement; it is a vision of a prosperous Africa where trade walls are broken down and opportunities prosper for all, hence the inspiring theme: ‘Empowering Africa: Leveraging Sustainable Procurement in the African Continental Free Trade Area’ comes at a fitting time. Ladies and gentlemen, sustainable procurement is at the heart of this vision. It empowers our local economies and fosters innovation. With sustainable procurement, we can ensure that our purchasing decisions support local industries, create jobs, and protect our precious natural resources for generations to come,” he said.
PRAZ CEO Mr Clever Ruswa expressed satisfaction over the uptake of the system by the relevant communities.
“We are happy as the regulator that e-procurement has been embraced by the bidding community and the procurement entities, especially the practitioners. What we have done so far is that we have made sure that we capacitate them in-terms of the use of electronic government procurement since it’s a game changer. We are happy with the outcomes of some of these training,” he said.
In accordance with the law, the treasury has since instructed that funds will not be released for any procurement conducted outside the electronic government procurement system.
