An Analysis of Sustainable Procurement in Rural Development: A Case of Rural Supply Chains in Chivhu, Zimbabwe · Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author

Chakanyuka, Blessed

Title

An Analysis of Sustainable Procurement in Rural Development: A Case of Rural Supply Chains in Chivhu, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to assess the role of sustainable procurement in rural areas, a
case of supply chains in Chivhu, Zimbabwe. Research was guide by the following objectives
assessing the impact of economic sustainable procurement on rural development, determining
how social issues on sustainable procurement affect rural development and analysing how
environmental issues affect rural development in procurement. A descriptive case study
research was used. A population of eighty (80) from different companies and a sample size of
sixteen (16) respondents were picked. Data was collected through questionnaire and interview
schedule. The researcher used IBM SPS statistics 20 and Excel to analyse data. Findings
towards the role of sustainable procurement in rural development indicated that business
organizations established in Chivhu considers the role of sustainable procurement but not as
much as the level expected. In all aspects of sustainable procurement there is certain areas they
put more focus and certain areas they put less focus. The findings revealed that organizations
put more focus on procurement of human and core labour standards for rural development to
ensured health and safety values of employees required by trade unions and other labour
organizations. However, procurement activities are not fair and ethical to achieve sustainability
due to corruption, bribes and kickbacks from suppliers and lack of transparent and auditing
procedures. The researcher recommend that business organization in Chivhu rural area should
put their commitment on procurement activities by having policy statements that exploring in
various conditions to trade in as fair and ethical in a good manner as possible so as to help
deliver social sustainability for rural development. The study also recommend that all
procurement departments of all business organizations involved in Chivhu rural area should
meet and integrate to sign agreements of mutual understanding on sustainable procurement
practices that brings rural development. As a result, this research is by no means
comprehensive, there is need to carry other researches regarding the role of sustainable
procurement in urban and town development. Other researchers should use different case
studies to conduct a kind of research.

Date

2023

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Sustainable Procurement

Supervisor

N/A