‘Procurement must drive national transformation’

Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business HubPROCUREMENT professionals must adopt strategic thinking, uphold ethical standards and embrace innovation to transform Zimbabwe’s procurement systems in line with national goals, a Cabinet Minister has said.In his keynote address, officially opening the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) 4th Annual Public Procurement Symposium in Bulawayo yesterday, Minister of Skills Audit and Development, Professor Paul Mavima, said the evolving global landscape demands core skills and competencies in the procurement sector.“As we stand on the cusp of an era defined by rapid technological advancements, globalisation and evolving market dynamics, it is very important that procurement professionals must embrace a set of core skills and competencies that will enable them to navigate this ever-changing landscape.“First and foremost, as indicated in the theme for this conference, strategic thinking is essential Procurement professionals must not only focus on cost-saving measures but also anticipate future trends, assess risk and align their decisions with the long-term objectives of their organisations,” he said.“Additionally, a deep understanding of technology and data analytics has become indispensable With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and big data, you must leverage these tools to enhance decision-making, optimise supply chains and predict market shifts.”He said Zimbabwe had enough skilled procurement officers to influence practices in the private sector but warned against corruption in the profession.Prof Mavima said the procurement profession was not a platform for self-enrichment, but should be a service for the betterment of the country.“Let me remind you that the procurement profession is not a platform for self-enrichment; it is a call to steward our country’s progress with honour Every ethical purchase, every fair tender process, is an investment in the well-being of our communities and the future we are entrusted to shape,” he added.“Let us promote service excellence not as a slogan, but as a national imperative as we remember that we are not gatekeepers of resources, we are architects of development.”The Minister said for those in the public service, they must deliver their duties as an alignment with the aspirations of the nation now defined within the context of Vision 2030, while also clearly articulated in the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 and forthcoming NDS 2.He said embracing the convergence of skills cannot be overemphasised as this meant integrating technical knowledge with other soft skills such as negotiation, customer service orientation, emotional intelligence, communication, problem-solving and leadership.“By fostering a diverse skill set, we can better navigate the complexities of procurement and contribute to achieving our Government’s vision of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030 as envisioned by President Mnangagwa.”Prof Mavima said the newly introduced electronic Government Procurement (eGP) system has proven to be the procurement game-changer.He said it has enabled procurement professionals to live up to expectations in conforming to the digitisation agenda through utilising electronic tools.“The eGP system has come in to enhance efficiency and effectiveness and ease the use of paperwork

I would like to commend Praz in that regard as they have made sure they launched this tool and equally spread training across the country on how to use the tool,” he said.The Minister said there was a need for procurement professionals to consider some of the provisions that are in the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act of Zimbabwe and the regulations, which speak to empowering the marginalised groups.He said they have a role in uplifting the communities that they serve from all corners of the country, while their professional skills are the source of sustainable procurement.“Further, you will be contributing to sustainable development and environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related issues that we are promoting in various spheres of the economy I encourage each of you to reflect on how we can move beyond compliance to a strategic mindset that embraces multi-tasking, strengthens our evaluation processes, and fosters a convergence of skills,” said Prof MavimaHe assured that his Ministry and other line Ministries in collaboration with procurement professionals, can elevate the procurement function into a strategic driver of value that supports the nation’s developmental trajectory.The two-day symposium is running under the theme: “Beyond Compliance: Strategic Thinking for the Modern Procurement Professional,” recognising procurement as a strategic pillar for effective and efficient service delivery.Share on FacebookPost on XFollow usSave

Originally published on Zimbabwe Herald

Source: Zimbabwe Herald