Story by Tichaona Kurewa
VICE President General (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga has called on African public procurement institutions to uphold professionalism and adopt digital systems to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency across the continent.
Speaking at the official opening of the 5th General Assembly of the African Public Procurement Network (APPN) in Victoria Falls on Wednesday, Dr Chiwenga said procurement plays a crucial role in national development, contributing around 17 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in African economies.
He noted that while public procurement remains central to service delivery and economic transformation, the sector continues to face challenges that hinder effective resource allocation.
“To address these challenges, we must implement robust regulatory frameworks that actively promote transparency and accountability. We must invest in the professionalism of procurement personnel through targeted training and capacity building. Additionally, embracing digital technologies that streamline processes is crucial. Moreover, fostering stronger collaboration between governments, civil society, and the private sector will create a more inclusive procurement environment, ensuring that the benefits of public spending reach all segments of society. By tackling these challenges head-on, we can build a procurement system that is both effective and supportive of sustainable development,” he said.
The APPN also highlighted some of the organisation’s achievements under Zimbabwe’s leadership.
“Under Zimbabwe’s leadership, we have worked deliberately to translate our founding principles into tangible actions. The first key initiative has been deepening regional collaboration and harmonisation. One of the most significant developments on the continent is the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. We recognised that disparate procurement systems act as non-tariff barriers, fragmenting our markets and stifling the cross-border trade that Africa’s free trade area promises. Secondly, we are accelerating digital transformation to promote transparency and efficiency. Globally, the digital revolution is redefining governance,” CEO, PRAZ and president, APPN, Dr Clever Ruswa said.
Zimbabwe is currently serving as the president of the APPN.
The APPN General Assembly brought together procurement experts, policymakers, and international partners to discuss strategies for strengthening governance and improving public procurement frameworks across Africa.
Established in 2018 in Lomé, Togo, the APPN comprises 53 African countries, organised into five sub-regional networks: North, East, West, Central, and Southern Africa.
