By Dickson Bandera
HARARE — The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) is currently conducting training sessions for bidders and suppliers at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the use of the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system.
The training programme is aimed at capacitating bidders and suppliers on how to effectively utilise the automated procurement platform, which was introduced to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public procurement processes.
PRAZ has fully automated key procurement functions and is now fine-tuning the e-GP system to improve performance and reliability. Officials said system enhancements include the incorporation of load-balancing features to ensure smooth bidding processes, particularly as the number of bidders and suppliers using the platform continues to rise.
“The uptake of the system is increasing steadily among bidders and suppliers,” PRAZ officials said, noting that improvements are being implemented to accommodate growing traffic and usage.
A number of procuring entities are already using the e-GP system to advertise tenders electronically. In line with procurement regulations, bids are typically floated for a period of up to 20 days, giving bidders and suppliers sufficient time to prepare and submit their applications through the system.
PRAZ explained that system usage levels are largely driven by bidder activity, especially during peak tender periods, making system stability and scalability a key priority.
Background
The Electronic Government Procurement system forms part of Zimbabwe’s wider public sector reform programme aimed at modernising procurement and moving away from manual, paper-based processes. The digital platform is intended to improve access to government tenders for bidders and suppliers, reduce administrative delays, and strengthen oversight in public procurement.
Since its phased rollout, PRAZ has prioritised stakeholder engagement and capacity-building initiatives, including nationwide training programmes, to ensure that bidders and suppliers are fully equipped to participate in electronic procurement.
