Public Procurement at the heart of Africa’s economic transformation: Chiwenga
...urges political will, professionalism to unlock intra-African trade
SITHENI NLEYA IN VICTORIA FALLS
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has underscored the pivotal role of public procurement in driving Africa’s economic transformation and deepening intra-African trade, urging governments to demonstrate strong political will and professionalism in managing procurement systems.
Speaking at the ongoing General Assembly of the African Public Procurement Network (APPN) in Victoria Falls yesterday, Chiwenga said the continent’s prosperity hinges on how effectively its nations manage procurement systems, the mechanisms through which governments spend trillions of dollars annually on goods, infrastructure, and services.
“I want to emphasize the critical role of political will in shaping the public procurement landscape across Africa,” Chiwenga said. “Political will is the undeniable driving force that transforms progressive policies into impactful action.”
The Vice President stressed that transparent and efficient procurement is the foundation upon which African economies can build competitiveness and regional integration under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Government is committed to creating an enabling environment where procurement processes are transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of citizens,” he said.
Chiwenga also emphasized the professionalisation of procurement systems, arguing that building strong institutional and human capacity was indispensable to rooting out corruption and inefficiency , long-standing challenges that have stifled public confidence and economic growth across much of the continent.
“The professionalization of procurement is essential for enhancing the integrity and effectiveness of our entire system,” he said. “We must ensure our procurement officials are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and ethical standards necessary to navigate the complexities of modern procurement. By investing in capacity building and rigorous training, we safeguard our systems from abuse and align them with international best practices.”
The African Public Procurement Network, which brings together 54 member states, serves as a platform for collaboration, policy harmonization, and knowledge exchange among African nations. The network, currently chaired by Zimbabwe through the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), is working to strengthen procurement governance and accountability frameworks across the continent.
Dr Clever Ruswa, CEO of PRAZ and the current head of the APPN, said the organisation’s goal was to foster a culture of integrity, inclusion, and shared purpose within Africa’s procurement community.
As a symbolic gesture of unity and shared vision, Zimbabwe donated a specially crafted trophy to the network, which Ruswa handed over to the APPN secretariat.
“This is more than a trophy, it is a mirror; it reflects our core identity,” Ruswa said.
“Towering majestically is the map of Africa, which reminds us of our shared destiny and the continental scale of our mission. The flags of all our member states, solidly placed on the back of the trophy, are a powerful declaration of inclusion.”
