Communities urged to monitor hospital procurement online

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. 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.

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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.

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