DESPITE a high rate of registration for the Government of Zimbabwe’s electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, its inconsistent use by health institutions is creating a direct threat to the timely supply of essential maternal health commodities, according to discussions held at a multi-stakeholder meeting in Mutare yesterday.
The meeting, convened by Transparency International-Zimbabwe (TI-Z), brought together Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) officials, procurement officers from Mutare City Council, Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital and Mutare Rural District Hospital, as well as healthcare users and audit professionals.
Launched in 2023, the e-GP system was designed to modernise public procurement, boost transparency and efficiency, reduce human interference and minimise corruption risks.
A recent presentation by TI-Z highlighted that inadequate resources hinder compliance in the use of the e-GP system.
“Training sessions conducted by Transparency International Zimbabwe with procurement professionals and stakeholders have highlighted key issues, which hinder full implementation and compliance with the e-procurement,” TI-Z said.
“The training highlighted that procurement management units are struggling to fully comply with the e-GP due to inadequate resources.
“District hospitals in particular are facing significant challenges that include insufficient Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and poor internet connectivity, which are hindering the effective use of e-GP systems.”
They added that compliance with the e-GP system by procurement officers in the health sector is crucial for ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the procurement process.
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Said TI-Z: “In addition, it was noted that delays in approving procurement plans and SPOC reviews by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe are exacerbating the problem.
“There is also a culture of resistance to e-procurement compliance that persists among some procuring entities, underscoring the need for PRAZ to step up its oversight and monitoring.”
While PRAZ evidence indicates that 98% of procuring entities had approved annual procurement plans in 2025, enabling them to conduct procurement on the e-GP system, full utilisation remains a challenge, particularly in the public health sector.
This gap means many registered health entities have not fully integrated the platform into their daily workflows.
“Our data shows a significant gap between initial system registration and consistent, end-to-end operational use.
“While most health entities are on the platform, many have not fully integrated it into their daily procurement workflows.
“Most entities are registered, many have approved annual procurement plans. However, usage across health institutions is inconsistent,” they said.
Mutare provincial procurement officer Richard Njanjeni told NewsDay Weekender that they are optimistic that e-GP implementation will be bolstered both nationally and throughout the province.
“The session was timely and insightful, shedding light on the practical challenges being encountered across the health sector and beyond, while also providing a valuable platform for dialogue on possible solutions and the way forward,” he said.
“Key takeaways included the need for continued user training and system upgrades, strengthening coordination between user departments and procurement management units, the importance of early planning and timely submission of procurement plans, and the role of transparency and accountability in restoring trust in public procurement.
“We are optimistic that with sustained engagement and collaboration, the implementation of e-GP will be strengthened across the province and nationally.”
