SEVERAL companies in Bulawayo are facing challenges in securing tenders from both public and private sectors leading to a pressing need for them to get guidance on the tender processes, a minister has said.
Despite possessing the necessary skills and resources to fulfil contractual obligations, many businesses struggle to navigate the complexities of tender requirements and submission procedures.
As a result, they miss out on valuable opportunities that could drive growth and development in the region.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube recently called on the Churches Council of Africa (CCA) local people to engage the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) after noticing that some businesses fail to get tenders due to failure to meet requirements.
“People usually complain that they don’t get tenders, but I have discovered that most of them are not registered and if you want to qualify, you need to be registered with Praz so that you get a number,” Ncube said.
“After that, you are told what to do next, but then our people here, one would say I have been registered and have a company but apart from being registered as a limited company or what, you also need to register the company with Praz to get a number.”
Ncube said this would help if tenders were being advertised for one to have a right to apply for the tender.
“I heard a lot of people complaining that they are not being considered. I then decided that let me inform the people during the CCA event that they should go and receive a good explanation, even go to the Nkulumane Post Office and register themselves with Praz,” she said.
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Ncube said when tenders were advertised, the entities should make bids like everyone else if they met all the requirements.
“Even if they come to our offices, they say they are not considered, outside companies come and win the tenders. Recently, I followed up on one, where they were saying they saw this tender for fencing.
“They questioned whether there wasn’t any company from Bulawayo that could do the fencing, so I then did a follow up.
“The manager was very frank with me and said they received less than three who had applied from Bulawayo and they failed the first stage because they did not complete their registration.”
She said they had agreed to engage Praz to educate representatives from different sectors so that they understand what is needed.
Meanwhile, CCA leader Bishop Rocky Moyo has commended Ncube for recognising the role churches and faith-based organisations play in the socio-economic development of our communities.
“The suggestion for the CCA to register with Praz is timely and could indeed open opportunities for our member churches to participate more actively in government tenders,” he said.
“By engaging Praz, we not only aim to secure tenders but also to ensure that our churches can contribute to national development by providing services and creating employment opportunities.”
Moyo said their member churches had the capacity and resources to meet the requirements of various projects and could deliver services effectively and efficiently.
“However, we must also emphasise the importance of maintaining transparency and integrity throughout the tendering process.
“It is crucial that all tenders are awarded based on merit, capability and compliance with legal requirements, to ensure resources are used effectively for the benefit of all citizens.
“We are committed to working closely with Praz and other relevant authorities to ensure that our participation is not only beneficial to our churches but also to the broader community.”
In 2018, companies in Bulawayo accused the city council of deliberately awarding tenders to Harare-based firms.
In response, Bulawayo town clerk Christopher Dube said local businesspeople were failing to come up with competitive bids resulting in their failure to secure tenders.
