Procurement Rules Governing Public–Private Partnerships for Infrastructure in Zimbabwe and South Africa—A Stakeholder Analysis

Abstract

This study delves into the critical, but often overlooked aspect of stakeholder management within Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) based infrastructure projects in Zimbabwe and South Africa. It explores the diverse stakeholder interests in PPP projects by comparatively analysing PPP procurement rules in Zimbabwe and South Africa, through the lens of the stakeholder theory. The study reveals a disparity in the role of procurement rules in managing stakeholder interests in both countries. Zimbabwe’s recently enacted PPP procurement rules fall short of PPP stakeholder management standards. However, South Africa’s procurement rules have been improved over two decades to make them more comprehensive and pro-active. The findings show that PPP procurement rules in both countries play a critical role in averting project failure caused by conflicting stakeholder interests. Nonetheless, there is a need for more robust regulatory regimes in both countries that account for conflicting interests to prevent project failure and fulfil the social welfare objectives of PPPs. Overall, effective stakeholder management in PPPs can bridge the infrastructure gap and improve the economic prospects of both countries.