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Masvingo- The new digital Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP) established by government a few years ago to curb corruption and challenges linked in the processing of public tenders for state entities has failed to eradicate the depravity totally as politically linked individuals and entities continue to benefit in big tender awards, compared to general business individuals and companies, it has been learnt.
Speaking during a Transparency International Zimbabwe multi stakeholders meeting advocating for increased compliance with e-GP system, held at Urban Lifestyles Hotel in Masvingo, participants expressed concern over the continued graft in government tendering system despite promises to curb it through digitalization.
“The system was established to arrest corruption and bring transparency and accountability but the challenges of favoritism and fraudulent awarding of government tenders still exit especially to those with political links or those who are politically powerful,” said Tawanda Museve from a local CSO.
The meeting drew participant from maternal health care institutions like Masvingo general hospital, Provincial Medical Director’s office and Masvingo City Council procurement offices who have since complied with the new system as per government directive.
The system was introduced to move away with the traditional archaic system involving too much paper work and documents as a way to improve efficiency and transparency in procurement and tendering processes.
However the system is currently facing challenges that include network slowness, resistance from government departments and individuals as well lack of internet connectivity in government departments.
The programme was launched on 23 October 2023 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Victoria Falls.
Stake holders however emphasized that corruption was still rampant despite the existence of the new System.
Some participants also raised concerned over incessant delays in the payment of tenders by the Ministry of Finance and accused it of prioritising quick payment for those politically connected.
“The other thing that is worrying suppliers of goods and service is that when they are awarded tenders the Finance ministry take ages to process their payments mainly in local Zig currency and when they finally do the money is eroded by inflation while others who are politically linked get their payments early or are even pre financed,” said a participant.
TIZ, Project Coordinator, Eustina Tarisai confirmed in the meeting receiving complaints over delays in payments and alleged favouritism from the Ministry of Finance.
“We have been receiving such complaints and actually during a meeting in Harare stakeholders also raised the same issues as challenges being faced by those who are complying with the new electronic system, these are issued that needs to be addressed,” she said.
It’s now compulsory for Suppliers of services and goods together with government entities to register on the government online e-GP system for all tendering activities and do business on line to allow a paperless new model.
Efforts to get a comment from Finance Minister, Prof Muthuli Ncube were fruitless.
