UNDER Zimbabwe’s dynamic leadership, the African Public Procurement Network (APPN) has driven a continent-wide agenda to transform public procurement into a strategic engine for sustainable development.
Outgoing president of the APPN, Dr Clever Ruswa, revealed this during the official opening of the network’s 5th General Assembly in Victoria Falls, where he outlined a year of resolute progress and growing influence anchored on four strategic pillars.
The assembly, which has drawn procurement experts, Government officials and international partners from across the continent, is a pivotal platform for shaping the future of how African Governments manage public spending, which accounts for a significant 17 percent of the continent’s collective GDP.
Dr Ruswa explained how Zimbabwe’s leadership has consciously worked to translate founding principles into tangible actions.
The strategic focus for 2025, he reported, has been channelled through four key areas — deepening regional collaboration, accelerating digital transformation, mainstreaming sustainability and inclusion and forging guardians of public trust through professionalisation.
Dr Ruswa highlighted the critical alignment of Africa’s procurement systems with the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“We recognised that disparate procurement systems act as non-tariff barriers, fragmenting our market and stifling the cross-border trade that AfCFTA promises,” said Dr Ruswa.
He said the APPN is no longer talking about integration in the abstract but is actively working to create the procurement rules that will make it a reality, enabling African businesses to compete for and win public contracts across borders.
On the digital front, Dr Ruswa positioned technology as a non-negotiable tool for transparency and efficiency.
He revealed that the APPN has placed e-Procurement, Artificial Intelligence, and data analytics at the heart of its dialogue in 2025.
“Our objective of leveraging digital tools to combat corruption, reduce inefficiency and ensure that every dollar from our public treasuries delivers maximum value for our citizens is very clear,” he said.
Dr Ruswa drew parallels to global leaders like Korea and Estonia.
Moving beyond the traditional focus on the lowest price, Dr Ruswa championed the concept of the longest value.
He emphasised that the APPN is actively mainstreaming Sustainable Public Procurement and Economic Inclusion as core principles.
African Public Procurement Network and Praz CEO Dr Clever Ruswa addresses the 5th General Assembly of the APPN in Victoria Falls yesterday
This, he explained, ensures public spending aligns with environmental goals and intentionally empowers women, youth, and small and medium-sized enterprises, thereby turning procurement into a force for shared prosperity and social stability.
Dr Ruswa said one of the most significant flagship achievements was the Southern Africa Public Procurement Training Academy (SAPPTA), launched in 2024.
He described it as a monumental step towards professionalising the continent’s procurement workforce.
“The most sophisticated policies and digital platforms are inert without skilled and ethical professionals to implement them,” said Dr Ruswa.
He called upon member states to continue the journey together to build procurement systems that are not just efficient but truly transformative, serving as a cornerstone for Africa’s enduring prosperity and unity.
The Fifth General Assembly, supported by partners including the African Development Bank and the World Bank, continues through the week, with delegates expected to chart a concrete action plan for the coming year.-herald
