Procurement Authority of Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer Mr Clever Ruswa
By Dickson Bandera
In a bid to combat corruption, fraud, and other illegal activities that may occur in the procurement process, the Procurement Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) is currently holding a two day training workshop to capacitate Zimbabwe’s law enforcement agencies.
The participants of the workshop are drawn from departments that participate in the criminal justice system, namely the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission, National Prosecution Authority, Zimbabwe Law Society and the Judicial Service Commission.
PRAZ has over the recent years been working on reforms aimed at building a trustworthy and accountable public procurement system, in line with the government call for all state enterprises to upgrade their systems in line with the country’s vision to attain an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
The procurement entity, however understands that inter-agency approach is the masterstroke to an efficient procurement system in Zimbabwe, hence cooperative frameworks, strategic partnerships and stakeholder capacity building initiatives.
In his remarks at the Official Opening of the Law Enforcement Training Workshop at a local hotel this Friday, PRAZ CEO Mr Clever Ruswa said law enforcement agencies were a vital cog in the efficiency of the public procurement system.
“The relationship between law enforcement agencies and procurement issues is critical for ensuring the integrity and transparency of the procurement process. By working together, these entities can detect, investigate, and prosecute procurement-related crimes, leading to a more accountable and trustworthy public procurement system,” he said.
“The presence of robust law enforcement mechanisms and the possibility of criminal prosecution act as deterrents against procurement-related crimes. Knowing that law enforcement agencies actively investigate and prosecute offenders can discourage individuals from engaging in corrupt practices, thereby promoting greater integrity and compliance in procurement processes,” he added.
PRAZ has been working on the legislative reforms to plug the holes that have been useful to offenders who manipulate the procurement processes. The Act and the Regulations are the two main pieces of legislation which guide the permissible conduct in the procurement process.
The PRAZ CEO also urged procurement entities to collaborate and share information.
“Effective collaboration and information sharing between procurement entities and law enforcement agencies are essential. Officials in procurement should collaborate with law enforcement agencies by reporting suspicious activities, sharing information on potential irregularities or fraud, and providing relevant documents and records as evidence. This cooperation helps law enforcement agencies identify and address procurement-related crimes more efficiently,” said Mr Ruswa.
Mr Ruswa expressed happiness that the local law enforcement agencies have regional and international cooperation arrangements which enable extraterritorial investigations.
“Procurement-related crimes can have international dimensions, such as cross-border bribery or money laundering. I am mindful that you engage in international cooperation and mutual legal assistance to investigate and prosecute such offenses. This collaboration involves sharing information, coordinating investigations, and facilitating the extradition of individuals involved in procurement-related crimes,” he added.
Some of the recent achievements by PRAZ include the review of the legal framework, the training of its officers and relevant stakeholders, and the introduction of automated procurement system known as the Electronic Government Procurement System eGPS.
The participants got an opportunity to present some of the challenges that they face during practice. Issues to do with investigating high profile cases, assets recovery, condonation, and detecting the crimes as well as the whole procurement process were discussed.
Recently, President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched the electronic government procurement (eGP) system which seeks to digitalise the public procurement process, a move towards transparency and efficiency.
The system automates various procurement processes, including tendering, bid evaluation, and contract management, reducing paperwork, facilitating faster communication, and improving data accuracy.
The eGP system will provide better access to information for both buyers and suppliers, enabling greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Praz expects every Procuring Entity to be on the platform by the first quarter of 2024
