PRAZ to Host 4th Annual Public Procurement Symposium in Bulawayo

Posted by Admin on 2025-07-31 14:50:53 | Last Updated by Admin on 2025-10-30 20:02:45

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By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA

 The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) is set to host its 4th Annual Public Procurement Symposium in Bulawayo from the 4th to the 5th of August 2025, under the theme “Beyond Compliance: Strategic Thinking for Modern Procurement Professionals.” 

The two-day event marks a critical evolution in the country’s procurement sector, with a focus on transforming procurement from a compliance-driven function into a strategic enabler of institutional value.

PRAZ Communications Manager Mqhele Tshuma said the symposium comes at a time when the business environment is rapidly changing, requiring procurement professionals to think and act beyond traditional practices.

“We’re moving away from viewing procurement as a back-office function focused only on compliance and cost-cutting. It has now evolved into a strategic driver of value, sustainability, innovation, and resilience,” Tshuma told BANO News.

He added that the symposium is designed to equip procurement professionals with tools to adapt and lead in a complex environment shaped by digital transformation, global supply chain disruptions, shifting regulations, and increasing stakeholder expectations.

“This event is about fostering a strategic mindset.We want procurement professionals to align their roles with broader organisational goals and be ready to navigate today’s challenges with a forward-thinking approach," said Tshuma

The symposium is expected to draw stakeholders from across government, the private sector, civil society, and academia. Discussions will centre on integrating procurement strategy with institutional vision, building agility into procurement systems, and leveraging technology for transparency and efficiency.

By selecting Bulawayo as the host city, PRAZ also highlights its commitment to decentralisation and regional inclusion, recognising the city’s growing importance in Zimbabwe’s economic landscape.

As the fourth edition of the annual symposium, this year’s event underscores the need to reimagine procurement not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a core strategic function capable of driving transformation across sectors.