Digitisation revolutionises public procurement, yields higher service efficiencies

THE Electronic Government Procurement (eGP) system, which is spearheaded by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), has achieved remarkable success in transforming public procurement processes, with 75 percent of annual procurement plans already approved for 2025, a leap from just nine percent processed during the same period in 2024.

PRAZ chief executive officer and president of the Africa Public Procurement Network (APPN), Mr Clever Ruswa, revealed this while addressing delegates at the Strategy Execution Advisory Talks (SEAT) Africa Summit 2025 held in Victoria Falls last week.

The summit was held under the theme: “Harnessing and Optimising Technology for Business Growth and Success.”
The eGP system was launched in 2024 and has automated critical processes such as tender submissions, evaluations, and contract management, slashing bureaucratic delays and fostering competition.

Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe
Mr Ruswa said the platform’s digital framework has enabled small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in procurement opportunities previously dominated by larger firms.

“Technology is no longer optional, it’s a necessity. By harnessing eGP, we have reduced administrative burdens, accelerated decision-making, and built stakeholder trust through transparency,” he said.

“This system is a testament to Africa’s commitment to leveraging innovation for sustainable development and equitable growth.”

Mr Ruswa went on to highlight some of the key achievements of the system, which include 100 percent system uptime and ensuring uninterrupted access for procuring entities and suppliers.

“The system has achieved geographical equality, enabled remote bid submissions and reduced carbon emissions through paperless processes,” he said.

“It has also enhanced fraud detection, with digital traceability curbing unethical practices.”
The eGP’s phased implementation, spanning onboarding, user testing, and live deployment, has also streamlined compliance.

“The system has improved public procurement in the country, with 75 percent of annual procurement plans having been approved to date for the year 2025. In the same period in 2024, only nine percent had been processed.

“The system has also achieved over 30 percent increase in bidder registrations on eGP for the first quarter of the two successive financial years (2024 and 2025),” said Mr Ruswa.

He said there were ongoing efforts to capacitate procurement professionals with requisite skills and integrate sustainability criteria aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“The time has come for Africa to fully embrace technology in public procurement. Through eGP, we are driving competitiveness, transparency, and a brighter future for the continent,” said Mr Ruswa.

The eGP System is a secure web-based application managed by PRAZ. It enables all public entities and bidders to conduct procurement activities electronically.

The eGP System enhances competition, transparency, efficiency and integrity in public procurement in Zimbabwe. It also facilitates faster decision-making by PRAZ and reduces the cost of procurement processes.

The system was officially launched by President Mnangagwa and demanded that all procuring entities (PEs), including Government ministries, departments, and agencies, be fully on board with the new system by January 2024. —herald