By NATION REPORTER
MUTOTWE Kafwaya has alleged that about US$25.5 million will end up into individual pockets of some high-ranking government and UPND officials involved in the tendering process for the procurement of fertiliser for the 2023/2024 farming season.
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Mr Kafwaya is claiming that the cancellation and subsequent reinstatement of the tender for the procurement of fertilizer for the 2013/2014 farming season was motivated by corruption as those involved in the scandal will be able to rake more than US$25.5 million through corruption.
Mr Kafwaya, the Patriotic Front Lunte Member of Parliament says the UPND government had adopted single sourcing as the mode of procuring fertiliser because they knew it was the most lucrative corruption trade.
He said the UPND government knew long before tendering and later cancelling the tender for the supply of Urea fertiliser their business associates from whom they were going to procure fertilser because of the kickbacks they had been receiving.
He said the motivating factor in the cancellation of the fertilizer tender was corruption especially that there was no more auditing in under the UPND government after hounding out Dr Dick Sichembe, the former Auditor General through a coerced resignation.
“It is a well-known fact that the preferred mode of procurement in the UPND government is limited bidding which is essentially single-sourcing. The cancellation of the tender and its eventual reinstatement was long predetermined and involved in the procurement know from who they are going to procure the fertilizer.”
“When the UPND came into power, the very first fertilizer procurement was through single-sourcing and cashed in more than US$25.5 million and they think they will still get the same US$25.5 million from the tender they fraudulently want to award to their known associates,” Mr Kafwaya said.
Mr Kafwaya stated that government should proceed and award the contract to their most preferred but expensive bidder but should ensure that farmers should receive their fertilizer in time and in agreed quantities.
He however said those engaged in corruption in the fertilizer procurement should know tht time to account for their action shall certainly come.
Mr Kafwaya said with the absence of the Auditor General, the UPND government official had gone on a looting spree especially in the procurement of fertilizer because the people involved had reaslised that it was a financially attractive venture.
…and I can justify what I am saying. When you look at the 2022 financial report, could you say it had been audited for the acting Auditor General to issue unmodified opinion on the financial report with so many glaring errors such as the increase in revenue of K22 billion but with nothing in the schedules?” Mr Kafwaya wondered.
He said government had confiscated K65 million from Faith Musonda but that the money had not been reflected in the financial report.
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