Transparency International Zimbabwe has sounded a national alarm over what it terms an “implementation gap” in the country’s electronic procurement systems, warning that administrative resistance and technical failures are directly contributing to poor maternal health outcomes.
Despite data from the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe showing a 98 percent approval rate for annual procurement plans on paper, TI Z officials revealed during a multi-stakeholder meeting in Gweru that actual compliance remains dangerously weak in public health institutions.
Addressing delegates from provincial hospitals and district health offices, a TI Z representative emphasised the urgency of moving away from manual, corruption-prone processes. “Compliance is not optional; it is central to transparency, accountability and saving lives,” the organisation said.
The organisation noted that while the electronic Government Procurement system was designed to limit human interference and curb corruption, its adoption is being stifled by poor ICT infrastructure, weak internet connectivity and persistent resistance to change among officials.
“Procurement reform only works when systems are used properly,” the official added, stressing that these systemic gaps keep corruption risks alive at the expense of expectant mothers.
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The push for accountability extended to Harare, where TI Z is simultaneously conducting a Procurement Monitoring Training Workshop under the Strengthening Procurement and Integrity in Zimbabwe Project.
The initiative is training civil society organisations and Health Centre Committee members to track supply chain processes and identify “red flags” that signal graft.
Workshop facilitators highlighted how failures in the procurement cycle—such as inflated pricing and the diversion of medicines—lead directly to stock-outs that jeopardise women and girls.
“We are strengthening citizen capacity to monitor these processes because an informed public is the best defence against the wastage of healthcare resources,” a lead coordinator said during a practical case study session.
By bringing together key state actors, including the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Ministry of Health and Child Care, TI Z said its aim is to finalise a clear action plan that assigns direct responsibility for procurement failures.
The organisation maintains that the transition to the e-GP system must be accelerated and strictly enforced to ensure that public funds are used for their intended purpose—protecting maternal health and securing the future of the country’s healthcare delivery.
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