Procurement, accounting professionals urged to shun partiality in their work

PROCUREMENT professionals and accounting officers have been called upon to maintain high levels of impartiality and to avoid undue influence in their decision-making processes.

The emphasis on adhering to an ethical code of conduct is deemed crucial for safeguarding the integrity of the procurement profession.

The call to action aims to reinforce the commitment of procurement professionals to ethical practices, thereby enhancing public confidence in the procurement process and preventing any potential for corruption or undue influence.

Speaking during a public procurement symposium in Bulawayo on Tuesday, Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) chief executive officer, Mr Clever Ruswa said procurement professionals should separate personal interests from professional responsibilities to avoid conflict.

He said there is a need to promote the codes of conduct and transparency in the procurement process, by ensuring that decisions and actions are well-documented and open to public scrutiny.

“This transparency enhances accountability and helps prevent corruption or misuse of public resources. Adhering to ethical codes of conduct is crucial as we need to safeguard the procurement profession,” said Mr Ruswa.

“We need to be aware that there is integrity and public trust at stake, considering the issue of public funds that we use. As such, procurement decisions should be based on objective criteria, such as value for money, technical merit, and the overall best interests of our organisations. I, therefore, implore you to maintain impartiality and avoid any undue influence or bias in your decision-making processes.”

The two-day event, which started on Tuesday is running under the theme, “The future of public procurement, emerging trends and opportunities.”

Mr Ruswa said ethical standards help to maintain a strong professional reputation and credibility within the industry and also reinforce compliance with relevant laws, regulations and policies governing the procurement process.

He said as a move to ensure transparency in the system, Praz has embraced electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) which is a standard and mandatory practice.

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.

“Let us make sure we are on board going forward. The eGP system helps ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations and policies governing the procurement process. Through the system, we have a centralised record of all procurement activities, ensuring full transparency and accountability. The eGP system provides a level playing field for all suppliers, ensuring fair and open competition,” said Mr Ruswa.

“Allowing certain procurements to be conducted outside the system could lead to preferential treatment and limit the participation of eligible suppliers.”

Mr Ruswa said the eGP system establishes standardised procurement procedures and workflows, ensuring consistency across all procurement activities.

“The eGP system serves as a comprehensive repository of procurement data, enabling robust data analysis and informed decision making while those done outside the system would create data gaps, hindering the ability to analyse and optimise the procurement process,” he said.

Mr Ruswa said since its launch in January, the authority has approved 251 annual procurement plans via the eGP.

In his keynote address, the secretary and chief executive officer at the Kenya Institute of Supplies Examination Board (KISEB), Dr Fred Ongisa said public procurement is a cornerstone of Government operations, ensuring that public funds are used efficiently and transparently to provide essential services and infrastructure.

He said in the field of innovation policies, Governments have traditionally directed their efforts towards the supply side, ensuring that the private sector operates in an environment conducive to innovation.

“Governments recognise that innovations materialise when there is a demand for innovation. Therefore, effective policies to support innovation have to focus on both supply and demand conditions. Among demand-side innovation policies, such as innovation-friendly regulations or lead market initiatives, public procurement is increasingly recognised as a potential strategic instrument and a policy lever for achieving Government policy goals,” said Dr Ongisa.

He said the strategic use of public procurement to boost innovation is closely connected to a Government’s power to shape and create market conditions.

Praz board chairperson Mrs Ntombenhle Moyo said public procurement is no longer about the efficient acquisition of goods and services as it has evolved into a strategic lever for driving sustainable development, fostering innovation and building resilient supply chains worldwide. She said Praz’s role is to foster an enabling environment that empowers public procurement practitioners to navigate the evolving landscape and harness the potential of emerging trends.

“As a regulator, we stand at the cusp of remarkable changes, driven by several key emerging trends and those that are fostered by innovation. Since the rollout of the electronic Government Procurement (eGP) system, there has been a significant chunk of public procurement players registering on the platform,” said Mrs Moyo.

Mrs Moyo said the development of training modules is ongoing which is meant to tailor make solutions to meet suppliers’ needs.

She said there is a growing imperative to align public procurement with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

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