PHILLIMON MHLANGA
The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) and the Zimbabwe Investment Development Authority (ZIDA) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on technical support and strategies that enhance transparency and ease of doing business in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).
The partnership will also see the two agencies sharing information in strengthening systems on procurement practices.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in the capital Harare, PRAZ CEO, Clever Ruswa said the partnership will go a long way in enhancing mechanisms that promote transparency, competitiveness, and ease of doing business in support of PPPs.
The collaboration, Ruswa said will further buttress government’s vision and national development agenda premised on an efficient and effective public procurement system by 2030.
“My greatest appreciation goes to the PRAZ and ZIDA teams for making this signing of the MoU come to fruition after several months of trying to get this partnership solemnized.
The signing ceremony fulfils the power of the authority that is outlined in the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDPA) Act Chapter 22.23 Section 7 subsection B which stipulate that PRAZ should cooperate with other organizations whether inside and outside Zimbabwe in the exercise of its functions,” Ruswa said.
He added: “PRAZ therefore engaged ZIDA to be collaborating partner in its efforts to enhance transparency and ease of doing business in accordance with the laws regulating procurement as by ZIDA Act.
This collaboration will involve exchange of technical expertise as when necessary, during the agencies execution of their mandates. Its key in driving development agenda. A joint technical committee, comprising of technical members from PRAZ and ZIDA will be established.”
ZIDA acting CEO, Duduzile Shinya (pictured) said the “collaboration of the two entities involve exchange of technical initiatives as and when is necessary during the course of executing each of the agencies respective mandates”.
Training sessions will be conducted in the respective agencies will be conducted as well as sharing of information that enhance advisory services of ZIDA to contracting authorities on issues of technical nature relating to public private partnerships (PPPs) and finding implementing solutions to enhance ease of doing business and investing retentions in the conduct of PPPs.
“Following this signing ceremony, we are excited that this will drive the national development agenda as public procurement can be leveraged.
This resonates with ZIDA’s strategic objectives of accelerating Zimbabwe’s economic growth through investment promotion and national development, “Shinya said.
She added: “As we enter into this partnership, we want to be effective, and we need to develop a result-oriented partnership. We want to work together with PPPs processes and contracting authorities, making it easier to do business within the public sector. We pledge that we will be a good partner with continuous and constant communication, collaboration on projects with contracting authorities.”
PRAZ is mandated to regulate public procurement so as to ensure transparency, fairness, honesty, cost-effectiveness and competition in public procurement and disposal of public assets as required by PPDPA Act (Chapter 22:23).
On the other hand, ZIDA is mandated to provide for the promotion, entry, protection and facilitation of investment.
