National health crisis and inflated bids in sector

Good morning 😃🌞☀️ let’s get into it

Botswana has been rocked by revelations of shocking price disparities in government procurement. Recent reports showed that medical supplies which could be sourced for under P80 million were being tendered at P705 million. For many Batswana, this confirmed what they already suspected—middlemen and flawed procurement systems are draining public funds.

On social media, frustration spilled over. One example highlighted the price of an exercise book. In the open market, it sells for P8.99, yet schools have been paying P30 through tenders. The difference of P21 per book may seem small, but when multiplied across thousands of schools, classes, and students, it adds up to over P80 million. The same story repeats with food items, stationery, and now, life-saving medicines.

This is not just about numbers on a budget sheet. It is about a system that allows inflated costs while citizens face shortages of essentials.

What People Are Proposing

Several solutions have already been raised:

1. Decentralized procurement – Allow schools, hospitals, and institutions to buy directly from local suppliers at market prices.

2. Reform tender awarding – Let institutions purchase from suppliers who can meet fair pricing, quality, and delivery requirements.

3. Cut out middlemen – Buy directly from manufacturers and established distributors instead of resellers.

4. Streamline bureaucracy – Modernize procurement processes and ensure financial oversight without excessive delays.

Additional Steps to Consider

To prevent this from becoming a recurring crisis, Botswana can go further:

1. Digital procurement platforms – Move all tenders online, with open price comparisons visible to the public.

2. Bulk purchasing consortiums – Pool demand for key items like medicines and school materials, negotiating directly with manufacturers for better prices.

3. Independent price benchmarking – Set up an authority to monitor market prices and automatically flag tenders that exceed fair margins.

4. Whistleblower protection – Encourage insiders to report inflated contracts safely and, where possible, reward them for exposing waste.

The Way Forward

The outrage seen this week reflects a deep frustration with waste and inefficiency. Batswana are calling for bold reforms that protect public funds and ensure essential supplies reach those who need them most.

The solutions are clear. What remains is the political will to enforce them and to ensure that never again will inflated tenders compromise the wellbeing of the nation.