By Nicole Chiimba
The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) aims to adopt artificial intelligence in procurement systems by leveraging digital technologies, following persistent corruption challenges that have affected the authority’s operations.
Addressing journalists in Harare, APPN President and PRAZ Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Clever Ruswa, said the Network is committed to leveraging tools such as e-procurement platforms and artificial intelligence to enhance accountability and effectiveness in public procurement.
“We will engage in decisive dialogues and explore how digital technologies like e-procurement and artificial intelligence can drive unprecedented transparency and efficiency,” said Dr. Ruswa. “We will deliberate on how to make our procurement systems more inclusive for women, youth, and small-to-medium enterprises—a route that Zimbabwe has already embarked on through national stakeholder engagements.”
Dr. Ruswa highlighted sustainability as a core pillar of the deliberations, noting that procurement practices must support climate action and maintain credibility across the continent’s systems. However, he acknowledged that the lack of political will in some African nations continues to hinder progress.
“Zimbabwe understands, and this Assembly will address, that the lack of political will poses challenges in many African nations,” he said. “We are here to change that narrative. When procurement is prioritized as a strategic tool for development, the results are tangible—improved infrastructure, efficient public services, and enhanced public trust.”
Established in Lomé, Togo, in 2018, the APPN was created on the conviction that collective action could unlock the transformative potential of public procurement, which represents approximately 17% of Africa’s GDP. The Network operates across five subregions—North, East, West, Central, and Southern Africa—and has previously been led by Senegal, Eswatini, and Côte d’Ivoire.
From the 11th to the 14th of November 2025, Zimbabwe is profoundly honoured to host at least 75 percent of the APPN membership,running under the theme “Transforming Public Procurement in Africa through Innovation, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Regional Collaboration,” the Assembly aims to drive forward a continental agenda focused on transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity in public spending.
Dr. Ruswa also underscored how the APPN’s mission aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), under which PRAZ has been pivotal in promoting transparency, efficiency, and economic inclusion in the management of public resources.
“This ensures that a huge portion of the national budget, channelled through public procurement, is managed with integrity to maximize value for money and support local economic participation,” Dr. Ruswa noted.
Looking ahead, PRAZ will play a central role in implementing National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) by expanding integration between electronic government procurement systems and other digital platforms to combat corruption and streamline processes.
“This will strategically align procurement to advance key sectors such as infrastructure and renewable energy, while enforcing inclusive procurement policies that empower marginalized groups,” he added.
The official opening ceremony of the APPN 5th General Assembly will be officiated by Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Honourable General (Retired) Dr. C.G.D.N. Chiwenga, who will serve as Guest of Honour.
Dr. Ruswa expressed confidence that the outcomes of the Assembly would mark a pivotal step toward realizing a prosperous and self-reliant Africa.
“From next Tuesday, we will translate our resolutions into a concrete action plan for a more efficient, transparent, and transformative public procurement landscape in Africa,” he said.
