THE Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) chief executive officer Clever Ruswa says male-owned businesses should operate under a quota to allow those run by their female counterparts to benefit from contracts in the public sector.
This comes as male-owned businesses have been getting a huge chunk of contracts in the public sector.
“There is no one who is behind in terms of embracing women in e-procurement ever since it was launched two years ago,” Ruswa told NewsDay Business in an interview.
“So, when we talk about domestic preference, we are also saying that under affirmative procurement, we want men-owned businesses to be given a quota, which is being lobbied for by the government. This is a directive and a strategy to decentralise and promote inclusivity for women-owned businesses.”
The e-procurement system is a business-to-business process of requisitioning, ordering and purchasing goods and services online, facilitating interactions between preferred suppliers and customers through bids, purchase orders and invoices using a supplier’s closed system.
Ruswa said domestic preference and affirmative procurement policies are designed to ensure that women and other underrepresented groups receive equitable opportunities in the procurement process.
“Before e-procurement, it was difficult to identify which businesses were classified as women-owned,” he said.
“With e-procurement, we can now determine who the ultimate beneficiary is. In some instances, we found that some men would want to use women merely as fronts for their businesses.”
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However, he said the e-procurement system allowed the authority to more accurately distinguish between female and male-owned businesses during the bidding process.
“Through e-procurement, the way they register and are classified allows them to occupy their space. On that score, we are very happy with that development,” Ruswa said.
He noted that these encouraged male-owned enterprises to foster partnerships with women, thereby enhancing overall inclusivity in the market. Praz board chairperson Ntombenhle Moyo commended the efficiency and transparency of the e-procurement system.
“The introduction of e-procurement is a revolutionary step towards levelling the playing field. Once you submit your information, the process becomes unbiased and transparent,” she said.
“Gone are the days of being shuffled from office to office; now, the feedback is swift and clear, allowing us to focus on what truly matters — growing our businesses. As women entrepreneurs, we must embrace the wave of technology rather than cling to outdated methods.”
Looking ahead, she envisions a future where traditional office visits for business inquiries become obsolete.
“As women, we need to be proactive and adapt to this change, ensuring we are not left behind in an increasingly digital world,” Moyo said.
