The Sunday Mail
Players in the local procurement industry have formed a new organisation, the Zimbabwe Institute of Procurement and Supply (ZIPS), with a view to enhancing the contribution of the sector to economic development.
The formation of ZIPS was announced as one of the resolutions at the annual Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Conference held in Nyanga recently.
It is anticipated that ZIPS will help to standardise the country’s procurement industry in line with international standards and also come up with interventions that promote cost-effective practices for the sector.
ZIPS is also expected to work with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, which is set to come into effect in 2018 following the overhaul of the State Procurement Board.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Business last week, CIPS executive member and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development procurement expert Mr Dennis Kagande said the new body will seek to create increased awareness on the significance of best procurement practices in the country.
He said: “There is need for clarity on the growing role of procurement in Zimbabwe that marks a shift from a clerical to strategic role approach. In light of the need to recognise, identify and acknowledge best practice in Zimbabwean industries, we have resolved to form the Zimbabwe Institute of Procurement and Supply, which we hope will play a game changing role in our economy,” he said.
Mr Kagande said ZIPS will also seek to grow the procurement industry by targeting groups such as women and the youth.
“There is acceptance of the need to underpin development with sound procurement practices. The involvement of the women-led businesses and the youth in awarding tenders should be promoted and strengthened.”
Mr Kagande said one of ZIPS’s prime goals will be to weed out corrupt tendencies that lead to fraudulent awarding of tenders as well as other vices in the procurement sector.
“ZIPS will also seek to play an advocacy role in the fight against corrupt tendencies that are prevalent in the procurement industry. Growth and or support to the procurement association alone will not solve the problem bedevilling the procurement field, but it will also succeed through constant encouragement with the Government for them to commit to public and private procurement -preferably through legislative backing.”
The formation of ZIPS comes at a time Government has revamped the procurement sector.
The 2017 CIPS Summer School, which was held under the theme ‘Promoting Economic Turnaround through Procurement’, was attended by Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira, who graced the seminar on behalf of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Other delegates at the Conference included SPB board chair Ambassador Buzawani Mthobi, the State Procurement Board chairman, senior Procurement Executive in the Office of the President & Cabinet Mr Nyasha Chizu and captains of industry.
