Social and economic impacts of procurement reforms on local communities in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study explores the social and economic impacts of procurement reforms on local communities
in Zimbabwe, focusing on how these reforms have influenced transparency, community
participation, and inclusive economic development in rural settings. Utilising a pragmatism
philosophy and mainly quantitative research design, data were collected through structured
questionnaires and interview guides administered to stakeholders involved in public procurement
including suppliers, local authorities and community members. Descriptive statistics, reliability
analysis, KMO, Bartlett's tests and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed to analyse
the relationships between procurement reforms and their perceived impacts. The results indicate
that procurement reforms have positively contributed to increased access to public procurement
opportunities, reduced corruption, and fostered greater accountability and trust among
community stakeholders. Additionally, the introduction of digital tools and social media platforms
has facilitated improved information dissemination, vendor engagement and monitoring of
procurement activities, thus aligning with global trends in circular economy and digital
governance. These findings support existing literature emphasising the transformative potential of
transparent procurement systems in enhancing service delivery and promoting equitable
development. The study concludes that while significant progress has been made, sustained
political will, capacity building and community empowerment remain critical to ensuring the long
term effectiveness and sustainability of procurement reforms in Zimbabwe’s local governance
landscape.