Bulawayo,(New Ziana)-Municipalities should prioritise sourcing goods and services from the local suppliers to stimulate job creation and boost economic growth, a senior government official has said.
Permanent secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution Tafadzwa Maguti said this while officiating at the Public Procurement and Governance Conference for local authorities held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEB) on Monday.
The conference, organized by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for empowering communities through structured procurement policies.
This year the conference is running under the theme “Collaborative Governance: Building Partnerships for Effective Public Procurement and Local Economic Development”.
“When local authorities engage local contractors for infrastructure projects, they ensure that funds circulate within the community, enabling businesses to grow and creating much-needed employment. This is not just about procurement, it’s about sustaining livelihoods,” said Muguti.
He said devolution and provincial economic development frameworks should accelerate local economic growth by deliberately favouring local suppliers.
Muguti also warned local authorities over rampant non-compliance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act (PPDPA), citing numerous court cases that have exposed procurement malpractices.
“Many local authorities have faced legal repercussions due to failure to follow competitive bidding processes or poor record-keeping. These lapses drain public resources and erode trust in governance,” he said.
He also explained that flawed procurement processes do not only lead to legal battles, but also hurt local businesses and residents who depend on fair opportunities.
Muguti also took a swipe at local authorities for shifting blame to PRAZ when procurement processes stall, urging accounting officers to take full responsibility.
“Procurement should not be left to junior officers without oversight. Leaders must understand and drive these processes,” he said.
Muguti expressed concern over line Ministries usurping procurement roles of local authorities, warning that such actions undermine constitutional governance structures.
“We have three tiers of governance in Zimbabwe thus national, provincial, and local. Let’s respect each other and the law,” he explained.
Muguti told the gathering that PRAZ is finalising procurement guidelines aimed at correcting historical imbalances in access to opportunities.
“Section 29 of the PPDPA Act speaks to domestic preferencing. These guidelines will ensure marginalised groups get fair opportunities,” he said.
He urged PRAZ to expedite the process while ensuring local authorities are capacitated to implement them effectively, and called for stronger partnerships between local authorities, businesses, and civil society to enhance procurement transparency and community engagement.
New Ziana
