Exposing the Murky World of Public Tenders in Zimbabwe: A Closer Look at the Procurement Sector

The murky world of public tenders in Zimbabwe has been exposed in recent weeks, with leading tenderpreneurs engaging in public spats over lucrative contracts. Analysts are drawing parallels between the procurement sector and the oil and diamond industries, known for their collusion and underhand dealings.

One of the key figures in this scandal is Wicknell Chivayo, who is alleged to have amassed wealth through politically connected public tenders. His associates, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, have accused him of cheating them out of their fair share of the proceeds from a US$40 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) procurement tender.

The situation has escalated, with Chimombe and Mpofu now facing fraud charges for forging documents to win a US$87 million tender to supply goats to the Agriculture ministry. Mpofu has also been awarded a US$9 million tender to fix the City of Harare’s street lighting, despite previous failures to deliver on projects.

Other names mentioned in the scandal include Dilesh Nguwaya and Kudakwashe Tagwireyi, who have been awarded multi-million dollar tenders without public scrutiny. The common thread in these deals is the lack of public tendering, with unsolicited bids being accepted and paid in advance.

Analysts believe there is collusion and coercion at play in these deals, with some suggesting that high-ranking officials may be involved. The government’s “Zimbabwe is open for business” stance has been called into question, as emergency procurement practices are being used to award contracts to private players without proper oversight.

The situation has raised concerns about the misuse of public funds and the lack of transparency in government procurement processes. It is clear that urgent action is needed to address the systemic issues that allow for such corruption to thrive in the procurement sector.