Story by Stanley James, Business Editor
THE Government has expressed commitment towards ensuring the country has an efficient public procurement system in line with the country’s development aspirations.
This came out when the Guest of Honor, Vice President General (Retired), Dr Constantino Chiwenga presided over a groundbreaking ceremony for the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ)’s new head office in Harare this Friday.
The groundbreaking ceremony created a platform for government officials and the private sector to assess the current state of affairs within the public procurement systems.
“This project goes beyond the construction of a physical structure, it marks a bold step in strengthening our national procurement, systems, enhancing transparency and driving institutional efficiency, most importantly it underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainable development and innovation as we strive to build a modern, forward-looking Zimbabwe,” he said.
“As many of you know, PRAZ has been operating from rented offices in Harare’s Central Business District. While this arrangement has served its purpose over the years, the time has come for a permanent, purpose-building facility, one that reflects the strategic importance of PRAZ in our national development agenda. This new head office will not only provide a professional and efficient working environment for staff, but it will also stand as a symbol of the values that PRAZ upholds, that is, integrity, accountability and good governance.”
Also speaking at the event, PRAZ Chief Executive Officer, Dr Clever Ruswa, noted that the government, as the largest consumer of goods and services in the economy, is prioritising the strengthening of procurement systems to ensure value for money and eliminate inefficiencies.
“This ground-breaking ceremony is a testament to our dedication to enhancing transparency in public procurement. The new headquarters will support our efforts to digitise procurement processes and promote fair competition among suppliers,” he said.
The government through PRAZ is targeting value for money from suppliers of goods and services, stamping out irregularities and maintaining accountable systems by embracing digital or electronic operations on public procurement.
