The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe’s (PRAZ)
chief executive, Mr Nyasha Chizu, was on Tuesday sent on leave, the day after
he told Parliament’s committee on the Budget, Finance and Economic Development
that some entities had not complied with procurement guidelines issued by the
authority in March when the Covid-19 pandemic was declared a national disaster.
chief executive, Mr Nyasha Chizu, was on Tuesday sent on leave, the day after
he told Parliament’s committee on the Budget, Finance and Economic Development
that some entities had not complied with procurement guidelines issued by the
authority in March when the Covid-19 pandemic was declared a national disaster.
PRAZ admitted that it did not oversee all procurement of
goods and services by Government departments to combat Covid-19 and that not
all State entities had submitted monthly procurement reports since the
beginning of the lockdown.
goods and services by Government departments to combat Covid-19 and that not
all State entities had submitted monthly procurement reports since the
beginning of the lockdown.
The non-compliant entities were yet to submit their monthly
procurement reports as required by law while some had centralised their
procurement processes instead of decentralising them.
procurement reports as required by law while some had centralised their
procurement processes instead of decentralising them.
Mr Chizu said some cases had been referred to the Zimbabwe
Anti Corruption Commission (Zacc) for further investigation.
Anti Corruption Commission (Zacc) for further investigation.
PRAZ board chairperson Mrs Vimbai Nyemba confirmed Mr Chizu
was on leave and denied rumours he had been suspended.
was on leave and denied rumours he had been suspended.
When Mr Chizu appeared with other PRAZ managers before the
budget committee on Monday, he said the authority was reviewing procurement
done by various Government departments since the lockdown was enforced in
March.
budget committee on Monday, he said the authority was reviewing procurement
done by various Government departments since the lockdown was enforced in
March.
PRAZ was established as a successor body to the State
Procurement Board, through the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets
Act in 2018, and Mr Chizu was appointed CEO since then.
The organisation is no longer responsible for awarding
tenders, but issues general procurement guidelines, review processes and
evaluates decisions made by procuring entities.
tenders, but issues general procurement guidelines, review processes and
evaluates decisions made by procuring entities.
The Treasury has the responsibility for the final money for
value assessment, before it will approve payments, and recently ordered the
cancellation of a large deal for medical supplies entered into by the Ministry
of Health and Child Care, a deal that has already seen the former Health
Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo, arrested and later dismissed from office. Herald
value assessment, before it will approve payments, and recently ordered the
cancellation of a large deal for medical supplies entered into by the Ministry
of Health and Child Care, a deal that has already seen the former Health
Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo, arrested and later dismissed from office. Herald
