By Staff Reporter
HARARE – Concerns over the proposed expansion of ministerial powers under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Amendment Bill, 2025 dominated discussions during a meeting between Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance.
At issue is a provision in the Bill that would allow the Minister to exempt certain procurement information from publication on the grounds of “national interest,” without clearly defining the term.
Speaking on behalf of TIZ, Nqobani Tshabangu warned that the absence of a precise definition could create room for abuse and weaken constitutional safeguards on transparency.
“The concept of national interest must be clearly outlined. Without limits, it can be used to conceal procurement malpractices,” said Tshabangu
Hwange Central legislator Daniel Molokele echoed the concerns, stressing the importance of legal clarity when invoking national interest.
“There are things that one cannot address openly,” said Molokele
“Do you know that there is what is called the Chihambakwe Commission, which one is prohibited by law to talk about?”
Molokele referenced the legacy of Gukurahundi, noting that unresolved historical issues continue to affect communities in Matabeleland.
“At the moment, we have people in Matabeleland who do not have IDs and birth certificates because their parents were killed during Gukurahundi. Those people are Zimbabweans, but some chose to cross the river to South Africa. It is part of a national problem as we speak today,” he said.
“You cannot address those issues because the Chihambakwe Commission is not a public document. But it is in the national interest and also the public interest. This is one bad example of national interest if it is not defined well.”
Molokele argued that failing to properly define the concept risks turning it into a broad shield that limits accountability rather than protecting legitimate state concerns.
TIZ recommended that the Bill narrow the scope of exemptions and require that any confidential procurement information be disclosed to independent oversight bodies, such as the Office of the Auditor-General or the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, under strict confidentiality conditions.
Committee chairperson Clemence Chiduwa said lawmakers had compiled a 10-page report incorporating stakeholder submissions and would table it before Parliament.
“We are willing to take note of the proposals raised. We already have a 10-page document; half of the document is with Hon. Hwende, so expect something in Parliament very soon,” said Chiduwa.
The debate now shifts to Parliament, where lawmakers must decide whether the proposed amendment strengthens governance by protecting sensitive information or creates legal space for opaque procurement processes.
At the centre of the deliberations is how Zimbabwe defines “national interest” without undermining transparency and accountability in public spending.
