The Office of the Auditor General has submitted a total of 42 companies to the Law Enforcement Agencies for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The 42 companies have had their conduct and performance scrutinized and dossiers compiled by the Auditor Generals Office.
Special Assistant to the President for Legal Affairs Darlington Mwape confirmed the development in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Mr. Mwape said the move taken by the Auditor General’s Office to investigate the awarding of contracts to some local contractors follows President Mwanawasa’s directive to the Auditor General that it investigates the awarding of contracts to local contractors.
Mr. Mwape said the Office of the President has fully studied the Auditor General’s Report which was submitted to the President after thorough investigations.
President Mwanawasa has since directed all controlling officers and government departments to stop awarding new contracts to the 42 companies until the investigations are concluded and decisions made in respect of each company.
Mr. Mwape said the Zambia National Tender Board has since issued a circular to all controlling officers and government departments not to award new contracts to the named 42 companies.
President Mwanawasa has since called on Law enforcement Agencies to expeditiously conclude investigations in order to foster transparency and accountability in the construction industry.
He said his Office shall continue to take a keen interest in ensuring that public resources are utilized with great sense of fiduciary duty to the Zambian people.
Hold on! What? They should already be rules in place for awarding contracts. Why should the president deal with such issues. They may find that some where given these contracts otherwise but that is no reason to affect the business and hard working yield of others.
SOLVE THIS ONCE AND FALL ALL SO THAT YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RETROGRESSION.
How can we become part of the solution??? Let me know. We have been dealing with the same issues since the time of my great grandparents.
“He said his Office shall continue to take a keen interest in ensuring that public resources are utilized with great sense of fiduciary duty to the Zambian people.”
COME ON! WE NEED A GOOD EDUCATION SO WE CAN BE PRODUCTIVE AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE(Later on jet skis, amusement parks, etc)
They are awarding contracts to anyone who can pay a bribe, my friend does not know jack about construction, he did’nt even have one shovel, yet he maneged to ”buy” a contract for rehabilitating a major road .
Listen the president and his admin are always looking for ways of grafting, this is a way to cut contractors they can no longer get payments from and now shall install his/their own, Lebanese and Asians. We are jokers in Zambia!