The awarding of procurement tenders to companies based outside Bulawayo has prompted calls for greater support for local businesses seeking city contracts.
Ward 3 Councillor Mxolisi Mahlangu said most tenders were being awarded to firms from other cities and urged the council to take deliberate steps to help local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) compete.
“The circulation of money within the city is critical. That is what makes the city economically viable,” he said.
The issue is detailed in the latest Finance and Development Committee report under the Procurement Report for January, February and March 2026.
Ward 5 Councillor Dumisani Nkomo called for swift implementation of the committee’s recommendations.
“A timeline should be set for when these recommendations will be actioned. The involvement of the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) is crucial,” he said.
Ward 26 Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo, who chaired the committee meeting, echoed the concerns, warning that awarding tenders to companies outside Bulawayo could hamper local economic growth.
“Awarding tenders to companies from other cities is hindering economic progress in the City of Bulawayo,” he said.
Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou told councillors that local businesses should be encouraged to become more competitive and actively participate in procurement opportunities.
She said companies needed training on how to bid competitively and how to apply for tenders through the Electronic Government Procurement (eGP) system.
“The eGP is a secure, web-based platform that automates the entire public procurement cycle. It has replaced manual processes with digital workflows,” Zhou said.
“Any interested supplier can log into the system and access all published tenders. Local businesses must become accustomed to using it, as many have indicated challenges in operating the system.”
Zhou added that the tender adjudication process is subject to extensive auditing, with the system providing an audit trail to allow PRAZ and other stakeholders to monitor accountability and fairness.
She also suggested that the council engage organisations that have previously supported local companies in navigating procurement processes, including groups that have worked with PRAZ.
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