Zimbabwe MPs push for AI in govt tenders to curb corruption

Zimbabwe's public procurement system could be on the brink of its most significant reform in years, as lawmakers push to introduce artificial intelligence (AI) into the awarding of government contracts - a process long criticised for inefficiency, inflated costs and corruption concerns.

The proposal, debated in the National Assembly last week, drew strong backing from MPs across the political divide, who agreed that the current manual system is no longer fit for purpose in a country under pressure to maximise the use of limited public funds.

The motion, introduced by Discent Bajila and seconded by Darlington Chigumbu, calls on the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) and the Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion ministry to adopt AI-assisted tools to evaluate tenders.

While the proposed system would not eliminate human involvement, it aims to minimise what legislators described as "room for manipulation" by shifting towards data-driven decision-making.

Bajila told Parliament that procurement lies at the heart of national development - but also at the centre of persistent controversy.

"Roads, hospitals, schools - all of it depends on procurement. But too often, we see inflated costs, delayed projects and questions about how decisions are made," he said.
"AI can help us to make decisions based on evidence, not influence."

Lawmakers cited widespread complaints over overpriced contracts, incomplete infrastructure projects and opaque tender awards as evidence that reform is overdue.

Zaka South MP Clemence Chiduwa said Zimbabwe's broader shift toward digital governance must include procurement systems, arguing that AI could significantly reduce the time taken to assess bids while improving transparency.

He noted that automated systems can flag missing documents, identify compliance issues and detect unusual pricing patterns in real time.

Prosper Mutseyami emphasised that procurement failures have direct consequences on development outcomes.

"When procurement fails, development fails," he said.
"We see unfinished roads, delayed clinics and projects that never reflect value for money."

Several MPs painted a picture of a system vulnerable to delays and excessive discretion, creating opportunities for abuse, including awarding contracts at inflated prices or to companies lacking the capacity to deliver.

Under the proposed reforms, tender evaluations would rely on structured datasets such as company track records, pricing benchmarks, compliance histories and past performance - reducing reliance on subjective judgement.

However, legislators cautioned that AI is not a cure-all.

Concerns were raised about the quality of data feeding into such systems, cybersecurity risks and the potential for flawed outcomes if underlying information is biased or incomplete.

Vimbayi Mutokonyi stressed that successful implementation would require legal reforms, adequate funding and investment in technical skills.

"The technology is only as good as the data and systems behind it," he said, adding that procurement laws must evolve alongside digital innovation.

Despite these concerns, momentum in Parliament appeared firmly in favour of reform, with MPs warning that Zimbabwe risks falling behind as other countries adopt AI tools to detect fraud, benchmark pricing and monitor contractor performance.

If adopted, the new system would also require Praz to regularly report to Parliament on its effectiveness in improving transparency, efficiency and value for money.

Debate on the motion has been adjourned, pending a response from the responsible minister before a final decision is made.