Sithembinkosi L Jiyane
www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) hosted its Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) Training for Bidders, a two-day workshop held in Bulawayo.The event aimed to guide participants on how to effectively use the e-GP system, understand recent legal updates, and improve bid submissions.
The training placed special emphasis on supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and women-led businesses, reinforcing PRAZ’s commitment to inclusive and transparent public procurement.
The training was presented by Kundai Chindondi, PRAZ Systems Specialist, who provided participants with a comprehensive overview of the e-GP platform.
He noted that the reform comes after longstanding challenges with Zimbabwe’s manual procurement system, which was criticised for delays in processing tenders, excessive paperwork, inconsistent procedures across institutions, and limited transparency.
During the workshop, Chindondi highlighted the system’s objectives, which include promoting transparency and accountability, ensuring fair competition among bidders, improving efficiency through automation, strengthening compliance monitoring, and reducing procurement cycle times.
“The goal is to ensure fair and open competition while improving efficiency and auditability,” he said.
The presentation also covered how the platform connects all key stakeholders in one digital environment. PRAZ manages supplier registration, procuring entities create and publish tenders, suppliers submit encrypted bids, evaluation committees assess proposals, and auditors monitor compliance.
Participants were guided through the supplier registration process, which includes creating an account, verifying email addresses, uploading required documents, and following payment instructions. PRAZ emphasised that payments are only confirmed once funds reflect in its accounts, with processing taking up to 48 hours.
“Payments are approved only after funds reflect, and processing can take up to 48 hours,” Chindondi noted.
The training further explained the tendering process. Procuring entities upload tender documents and set eligibility and evaluation criteria online, while suppliers submit encrypted technical and financial proposals before system-enforced deadlines. Once bids are evaluated, results are consolidated, approvals finalized, and bidders notified. A standstill period is observed to allow for any disputes to be addressed.
“Bids are encrypted and deadlines are automatically enforced to ensure confidentiality and fairness,” Chindondi said.
PRAZ’s Finance Division was also highlighted. The division is responsible for issuing receipts and certificates, banking bid bonds into trust accounts to ensure transparency, and refunding bid securities once conditions are met.
“The Finance Division ensures integrity and compliance throughout the procurement process,” he added.
Officials said the e-GP system represents a major milestone in modernising Zimbabwe’s procurement sector. By automating processes, enforcing deadlines, and strengthening oversight, the platform is expected to create a more transparent, competitive, and efficient environment for all stakeholders.
The two-day training attracted participants from across the country, including MSMEs and women-led businesses, demonstrating PRAZ’s continued focus on promoting inclusive access to public procurement opportunities.
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