President Mwanawasa has directed government departments not to award contracts to firms that have been cited in the auditor general’s report for irregular operations.
Darlington Mwape, a presidential legal aide, said a total of 42 companies have been blacklisted from getting any government contracts while the anti-corruption commission probes them.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC news by the president’s Special Assistant for legal affairs, Darlington Mwape.
President Mwanawasa had directed the Auditor general’s office to investigate contracts to some firms, which have failed to execute the projects to required standards.
The president had questioned why such companies had continued to win tenders to implement government projects when their performance was below par.
Mr. Mwape said the Auditor General’s Office has now handed over dossiers on its findings to law enforcement officers for further investigations and possible prosecution.
He said millions of dollars of public funds had been lost through various contracts in which the firms received payments without carrying out the work, mainly involving road construction.
He said the Auditor General’s office scrutinised the conduct and performance of 42 companies.
42 of them blacklisted? does Zambia have any construction companies left?
Long overdue! Finally, someone at the Auditor Generals’ office has earned their pay. What about the rest of our blotted civil service? Where were the internal auditors, Directors, the PS, Deputy Ministers and Minister at the Ministry of Works and Supply (and all other Ministries)? Did it have to take the entire Head of Government/President for action to be taken? Shameful!! And we wonder why we are rated as one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world!! We need change and action…and we need it quickly!!!
This GRZ amazes me. Why not list all these companies in the daily newspapers so that the owners of these companies are brought to shame? It does not urger well to keep their names secret when soon or later some of these companies may already defraud other citizens elsewhere by keeping their identities secret. This is why ZAmbia does not develop. There is too much secrecy even in matters that are clearly in public interest. Shame on you LPM. You are leading a dead, failed state due to your selfishness.
I cannot understand u #3.The GRZ does a step u shame them for not doing it ur way.Maybe, indivduals should be blacklisted as well, as these guys are going to register new companies and back in business.And agian back to your argument, these pipo offnede the gRZ not anyone else, they still have rights and will be protected by Law.Hence, listing them in newspapers would only lead to litigation issues here, I would also sue the GRZ for loss of business, what do u think?
#3 and #4, you’ve both got valid points. There’s need for us to know who these companies are including their directors. Since the AG dossier has been handed to the investigative wings, legal issues may prevent us knowing full details right now but it will surely come out in the open. The sooner we know the directors and majority shareholders, the better. These chaps could have several bogus companies (fronts) and still b milking the treasury of billions of kwacha.
a very bold step indeed.the office of the AG should feel enpowered and supported by the executive to bring about accountability.this move has only been possible becoz the promoters of this initiative have nothing to hide or lose.”he who seeks equity must come with clean hands” now the challenge will be the speedy & successful prosecution of the guilty.”justice delayed is justice denied”
bwana Chabala #2, interesting point! surely, these briefcase contractors were doing this in collusion with some civil servants? I fully agree, for as long we fail with our basic checks and balances, you’ll find junior Govt cashiers living like royalty, all on the tax payers tab! I believe the GRZ bucket has way too many holes & leakages and if we don’t fix them permanently, we’ll b singing the same AG song yr after yr
Miyoba,
transparency is on of the most important keys to defeating corruption. Once tenders are kept as a preserve for a few guys, you will have growth in corruption cases. Levy needs to be monitored too in how he impliments the black-listing of these dirty contractors. Without any transparency, some of our citizens will conclude that there is an exclusive list somewhere of some “untouchables” due to their party affliation, or place of origin. Without publicly listing these contactors publicly, how do we know if LPM has done his job (if it is his job at all)? What we lack in Zambia is the office of the Public Protector.
you shud even arrest them LPM.They are plunderers.
Govt should use their own university students to build roads, bridges and houses – all these construction projects could be used as student projects and aimed at developing the country at a cheaper cost. Some of the projects in UK are done by university students. i remember listening to a Botswana student not long ago telling that they built the Marriot hotel in the city, and he used his experience for his final year dissertation.
#10 – True.
You are absolutely correct.Our GRZ does not know how to develop Zambia. They are engrossed in navel gazing and reading more papers on how to get loans for their fat wives.
The fact that our grz has no priorities points out how mentally bankrupt they are in stathouse.
But is it the President’s job to blacklist companies. Can’t he at least delegate that to responsible departments?
name them kaili just one of them or two
#12 He can delegate to the same pipo who give these scumbags the tenders.They will still pay the way out of the black-list.
the US govt. still pays $18 for toilet seats,$30 for door handles….corruption dear comrades is everywhere!!!
Pundit mune #15, corruption is everywhere but the African version is extremely chaotic & leaves millions in abject poverty. It’s not a secret that Bush & and his cronies are connected to big firms like Carlyle Grp, Haliburton etc They invade Iraq with hidden agendas of awarding themselves lucrative oil & reconstruction contracts! This my friend, is organised crime (corruption), which creates jobs for americans & helps their ailing economy (same applies to the shady arms industry). Manje, ise, Kafupi zooks everything without adding value to the economy…mugabe, mobutu etc no wonder we remain the dark continent eclipsed in poverty, ignorance & disease!
Ba Tarantino#16,your comments mirror my exact sentiments!!African corruption benefits no-one but the chaps involved…Western corruption creates jobs and adds value to their economies albeit at the expense of Africa/Iraq etc etc.The Afghan president was an employee of the Bush family businesses and when they ousted the Taliban it followed that only someone with allegiance to the American dream would take over..good for the Afghans…better for the Bush businesses AND best for mankind!!we could say “corruption with a human face !!”
Could someone provide a list of these black listed companies.
#12, blacklisting a company or an individual is a prerogative of the Head of State anywhere in the world. Right on #15. Indeed corruption is everywhere in the world. Do you remember the fate of ENRON in the USA??? It even makes our so-called corruption look like a child’s play. Big bucks exchange hands under the tables there.
#19..please include Conrad Black in your prayers as he begins his sentence!!in Zambia we complain of redundancies…at Enron many women lost their jobs and were forced to pose for Playboy to pay bills and feed their families!!!i really think Zambians should take more advantage of the internet and find out what is really out there and see the WORLD for what it really is!!the internet is the cheapest way to “travel” and learn!!
Imwe a Levy, taonga chomene! Now something needs special attention! The black listing was ordered by LPM, meaning that without his word, some chap with such responsibilities would have been fearing for his wits, this systems sure amwebo! Its the system that should be put to order, not only blacklisting suspect cases! Plz, leave us a system that is sound with minimum loopholes and a precedence that the system is working fearless, untouchable, dont need permission to act and is visible every where. So invest resources, commitment, transparency and you will be suprised with the amount of public support! We all luv our country, we want it for us all, not a few connected individuals! Naluta yebo!
Asi mwapulika a Levy? Good system ndiyo tikukhumba, osati system where everyone is fearing to act or else you step on the toys of the ubiquitous boss! We need to properly publicise all failed projects and names of responsible companies and directors, update the list frequently and circulate it to all provinces! Recovery of money on failed projects or poorly done projects should also be part of deterent measures! Fast track court system on corruption should be established because this sickness kills even the unborn Zambains! We have the right to protect them. Makaka utu tuchenjezi twa ku CB na utu tukulya mukhwele, tukunyanyisya, akweee< shaaaa! Vya waka waka!
I feel to have 42 construction firms in a country that has very little construction and dilapitated infrustructer is a joke. Construction I feel is different from repairs. Construction involves building of new roads, buildings and plants.
The government should limit the number of such firms to, lets say ten, and ensure they are doing a proper job. We dont need to rehire a firm to repair badly done work a year or two later after completion.
U got the rite to ur opinion but only out of excitement. u must inform LPM the way construction contracts are handled. i believe no single kwacha is paid out to a contractor without collateral attached, in this case advance and performance bonds of wich in gvnt circles is isued by a recognised bank. This is to protect the client from losing out on the money paid out. Wel i bet LPM is a lawyer wu knows it beta than all.
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