The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe says it is moving to embed artificial intelligence into the country’s electronic Government Procurement platform in a bid to enhance transparency and drive efficiency across public procurement.
The eGP system, officially commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in October 2023 and rolled out in January 2024, has already transformed the procurement landscape by digitising transactions between state entities and bidders.
Officials say the platform has reduced costs, improved competition, and limited human discretion in awarding contracts.
PRAZ Information and Communication Technology Director Freddy Ndhlovu said AI would mark the next frontier.
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“Participating bidders can raise issues, and because the process is now transparent, anyone can easily see and query irregularities. We are now working on artificial intelligence initiatives to take this further,” he told journalists in Kadoma.
Currently, the eGP system can generate reports and detect anomalies, but Ndhlovu explained that AI will extend its capabilities by ranking bidders, flagging compliance problems, and offering real-time analytics.
“Without AI, the system only gives updates such as the order it has picked. With AI, it can also analyse and rank bidders in a least-cost arrangement,” he said.
PRAZ says its planned reforms will position Zimbabwe’s procurement system as more strategic, data-driven, and corruption-resistant.
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