Government has introduced a National Standard Price List (NSPL) to guide the procurement of commonly used goods and services across ministries, departments and agencies as it moves to address price inconsistencies and tighten control over public expenditure.
The pricing benchmark is expected to curb inflated quotations, improve transparency and ensure uniformity in government procurement — an area that has long faced criticism over cost overruns and weak oversight.
“The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) wish to inform current and potential suppliers that the Government has introduced a National Standard Price List (NSPL) to guide the procurement of commonly used goods and services across Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube said in a statement on Friday.
He said the implementation of the new measure is expected to enhance cost savings, transparency and efficiency in public procurement, thereby supporting national development priorities.
“The NSPL also forms part of the government’s broader public financial management reforms, which include the rollout of the electronic Government Procurement System, strengthened financial oversight and improved budget management systems,” Ncube said.
He said priority will be given to domestically produced goods and services, in line with the 2026 National Budget Statement.
Section 6 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act mandates the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe to develop and maintain tools, guidelines and electronic databases to support all procuring entities in executing their procurement functions.
This includes providing structured pricing references, standardised procurement methodologies and other resources such as the NSPL, which are intended to enhance efficiency, consistency and evidence-based decision-making across all levels of public procurement.
Through these measures, Praz seeks to ensure that procuring entities operate within a regulated and transparent environment while promoting value for money and equitable access to procurement opportunities.
The NSPL was developed through a coordinated whole-of-government approach involving the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, the National Competitiveness Commission, the Office of the President and Cabinet, and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.
Officials said the inter-institutional collaboration ensured fiscal alignment, policy coherence, competitiveness considerations and statistical integrity in formulating the national pricing benchmarks.