Residents in Bulawayo’s Mpopoma suburb have been encouraged to monitor procurement processes at public hospitals using a new government digital platform and to report any suspected irregularities.
The call was made during a community engagement meeting on public health procurement organised by Transparency International Zimbabwe in partnership with the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association.
Nhlaloenhle Moyo, a procurement officer at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), said members of the public now have direct access to government tender information through the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, introduced in collaboration with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.
“The Electronic Government Procurement System allows anyone with internet access to see advertised tenders, how they were conducted and who was awarded the contracts,” he said.
Moyo said the platform can be accessed using smartphones, making it easier for communities to scrutinise how public institutions spend money.
“Even on your phone, you can log in and see what UBH or Mpilo Hospital is planning to procure. It has become easier for everyone to see,” he said.
Before the introduction of the e-GP system, suppliers submitted documents physically, a process he said was less transparent and more vulnerable to manipulation. Now, bids are uploaded online and can be tracked publicly.
“Anyone around the world can upload their documents, and the process is visible. You can even see what UBH is planning to buy for 2026,” he added.
Moyo stressed that public procurement involves taxpayers’ money and directly affects service delivery.
“Public procurement is your funds. Whether it is for maternity services or other illnesses, every dollar is important. The aim is to ensure that the medication you need at hospital is available,” he said.
He explained that government hospitals are required to procure medicines through the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), which is mandated to supply drugs to public health institutions.
He said departments are required to plan their annual needs, from medicines to equipment, to ensure adequate budget allocations. However, he acknowledged that shortages can still occur when disbursed funds do not meet demand.
“Sometimes the allocated funds are not enough, leading to emergency procurement to save lives. Delays or shortages can have serious consequences,” he said.
Moyo urged residents not to remain silent if they encounter corruption or poor service.
“You are allowed to report irregularities. It is your money and you deserve proper service delivery,” he said, adding that complaints can be submitted anonymously through suggestion boxes at hospitals.
Some residents who attended the meeting raised concerns about persistent shortages of drugs and supplies, particularly in maternity wards.
One woman said expectant mothers were sometimes required to purchase basic items themselves.
“In maternity wards, women are told to buy scissors, needles or drips. Yet people give birth every day, so these items should be available,” she said.
Another participant argued that while planning mechanisms may exist, monitoring remains weak.
“There are registers for patients and for drugs used daily. Sometimes there are leftover medicines, but monitoring is lacking,” she said.
A parent shared his experience of being given repeated prescriptions to buy medication outside the hospital because supplies were unavailable.
“There is always insufficient supply. When my child was sick, I had to buy everything because the hospital did not have the medication,” he said.
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