The Malawian government will award the tender to supply anti-corruption software to Zimbabwe IT firm Twenty Third Century Systems, despite concerns raised by some officials over the procurement process - specifically that there were cheaper alternatives available.

ITWeb Africa reported earlier this month that the Zimbabwe company had landed the US$13.7 million bid, and that certain officials disputed the decision claiming the bidding process had not been handled properly.

According to local media reports, Malawi's Accountant General Chrighton Chimombo confirmed Twenty Third Century Systems as the preferred supplier of the new Integrated Financial Management System software.

The Nyasa Times quoted Chimombo as confirming the situation and that the government is hopeful that the process will be completed "by next week" in order to begin work on the anti-corruption software, expected to be fully functional in 2019.

This follows a series of meetings between Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament, Treasury and the Auditor General's office.

Alekeni Menyani, chairman of the Malawian Parliamentary public accounts committee said recently, "If the system that is aimed at dealing with fraud is being (improperly) procured, then we really are damned."

In 2015 Malawi issued a tender for an Integrated Financial Management Information System, but the process was drawn out fuelling suspicion of irregularity.