MPs Advocate for AI in Government Bidding to Fight Corruption

A New Era for Zimbabwe’s Public Procurement

Zimbabwe’s public procurement system may be on the brink of a major transformation, as lawmakers have proposed the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize how government contracts are awarded. This initiative comes in response to long-standing criticisms about the current manual process, which has been plagued by delays, inflated costs, and allegations of corruption.

During a recent heated but largely supportive debate in the National Assembly, members of parliament (MPs) highlighted the inefficiencies of the existing system, emphasizing that it is no longer suitable for a country striving to maximize every public dollar. The motion, introduced by Discent Bajila and seconded by Darlington Chigumbu, urges the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) and the Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion ministry to adopt AI-assisted systems for evaluating tenders.

The proposal does not eliminate human involvement in the process but aims to reduce what MPs refer to as “room for manipulation” by introducing data-driven decision-making into one of the government’s most sensitive functions. Bajila emphasized that procurement plays a central role in national development, yet it also remains a source of 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.”

Across the chamber, MPs from both the ruling party and the opposition generally agreed that the current system is under significant strain. They pointed to recurring complaints about overpriced contracts, unfinished infrastructure projects, and tender awards that raise more questions than answers.

Zaka South MP Clemence Chiduwa argued that Zimbabwe is moving toward digital governance and that procurement must not be left behind. He suggested that AI could drastically reduce the time required to evaluate bids while improving transparency by automatically flagging missing documents, compliance issues, and abnormal pricing patterns.

However, the benefits of AI extend beyond speed. Prosper Mutseyami warned that procurement decisions ultimately determine whether public money delivers real development or disappears into inefficiency. “When procurement fails, development fails,” he said. “We see unfinished roads, delayed clinics and projects that never reflect value for money.”

Some MPs described a system where delays and human discretion have created opportunities for abuse, with contracts sometimes awarded at highly inflated prices or to companies with questionable capacity. Under the proposed AI system, procurement decisions would be guided by structured data, including company history, pricing benchmarks, compliance records, and past performance, reducing reliance on manual scoring and subjective judgment.

Despite these potential benefits, lawmakers were quick to emphasize that AI is not a silver bullet. Concerns were raised about data quality, cybersecurity risks, and the possibility that biased or poor-quality data could lead to flawed outcomes. Others warned that technology without strong oversight could simply shift, rather than solve, existing problems.

Vimbayi Mutokonyi stressed that reform must be supported by legislation, funding, and skills development if it is to succeed. “The technology is only as good as the data and systems behind it,” he noted, adding that procurement law needed to evolve alongside digital reforms.

Despite the caution, there was clear momentum in the House in favor of change. Several MPs argued that Zimbabwe cannot continue relying on slow, paper-heavy systems in an era where other countries are already using AI to detect fraud, compare pricing in real time, and track contractor performance.

If adopted, the reforms would require Praz to regularly report to Parliament on how AI is improving transparency, efficiency, and value for money—or where it is failing. The debate was adjourned, with lawmakers waiting for a ministerial response before the motion is finalized.