The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDPA) Act’s mandate is to foster a culture of transparency, honesty, cost-effectiveness, competition and fairness in the procurement and disposal of public assets. The PPDPA Act was enacted in 2017 but came into force 1 January 2018 with a mandate of ensuring that public resources are leveraged in a responsible, sustainable and effective manner to achieve value for money. A significant outcome of the Act’s enactment was the establishment of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) 2018. PRAZ, as the regulator of public procurement and disposal of public assets, is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the PPDPA Act to the letter. The creation of PRAZ marked a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s efforts to promote good governance and decentralize procurement.
Vision: “to have an efficient and effective Public Procurement system by 2030”
Mission: “setting standards and regulating public procurement and disposal of public assets in a manner that is transparent, fair, honest, cost-effective, and competitive.”
Core values: “integrity, transparency, accountability, fairness, professionalism, and public service”.
The PPDPA Act contains provisions aimed at promoting its core values which include the development of comprehensive procurement plans; outlining a procuring entity’s procurement needs and strategies; types of procurement processes with clear, well-defined procedures and timelines with priority on the use of competitive bidding processes to promote fairness, competition among bidders and innovation. The PPDPA Act also provides for record keeping and review and debarment procedures for both bidders and procuring entities respectively. Moreover, there is emphasis on the disposal of public assets that must be undertaken in a transparent and competitive manner, ensuring that public assets are optimized to their fullest potential.
To ensure compliance with its provisions, the PPDPA Act prescribes a range of sanctions and penalties for non-compliance including criminal penalties. By promoting transparency, accountability and fairness, the PPDPA Act seeks to mitigate the risks associated with corruption and inefficiency in public procurement, promote competition and innovation, as well as ensuring value for money in public procurement and enhancement of public trust in the processes.
The PPDPA Act represents a significant paradigm shift in the sector of public procurement in Zimbabwe, one that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and fairness. As the nation moves forward, it is imperative that we continue to prioritize these values, leveraging the PPDPA Act as a catalyst for economic development.
Unpacking the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDPA) Act [Chapter 22:23]
