Now, Nkombo defends ambulances scandal

By GIDEON NYENDWA

IT is shocking that the address for ACE Pharmaceuticals, the company involved in the procurement scandal of 156 ambulances has suddenly changed its address from Garden Township to plot 177 Meanwood, Imanga Wamunyima, the Nalolo Member of Parliament told Parliament yesterday.
Yesterday, Garry Nkombo, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development told Parliament that ACE Pharmaceuticals was domiciled in Meanwood and not Garden Township, contrary to a statement issued by both his Permanent Secretary Nicholas Phiri and Thabo Kawana, the Information and Media Permanent Secretary that in fact the company was resident in Garden Compound.
Mr Wamunyima said it was submitted to the Parliamentary Committee by the Permanent Sectary, Nicolas Phiri that the ACE Pharmaceutical was domiciled Garden Compound.
He questioned whether the due diligence that Mr. Nkombo undertook discovered that the people appearing at PACRA were not the same at the banks signatories. Mr Wamunyima was asking whether Mr Nkombo was aware that the ACE Pharmaceuticals and Aqueous Investment Limited that were single-sourced were going to procure the ambulances from one supplier in Dubai.
“Garden is not contained in the documents that I have in my hands unless you say I need another pair of spectacles. Nevertheless, Garden, Kabulonga, it is just a location, I didn’t pay much attention about the locations and I could not speak on their behalf,” Mr Nkombo said.
He said the issue of the two companies procuring ambulances from the same suppler was not a big issue because the dealership of Toyota came out of Japan and the Franchise could be given to an assembly plant anywhere, claiming that getting from the same supplier was not a crime. Mr Nkombo said this when he delivered a ministerial statement on the procurement of 156 ambulances under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
He said on May 15, 2024, two citizen owned companies, ACE Pharmaceutical Limited and Aqueous Investment Limited were awarded a contract to supply and deliver 78 basic life support ambulances each.
Mr Nkombo said the contract was valid for 18 months, effective May 10, 2024 and in line with the law, and that each of the successful companies was paid US$ 1.5 million as 25 percent down payment.
He said the delivery period for the ambulances, as contained in the contract was between 16-20 weeks, upon receipt of the down payment which delivery period expired on December 1, 2024.
Mr Nkombo said as of yesterday, 11 ambulances were in the country, 6 from ACE Pharmaceutical Limited and 5 from Aqueous Investment Limited.
He also indicated that another 18 ambulances were under shipment and would be in the country soon going by the documentation availed to the Ministry by the contracted suppliers.
Mr Nkombo said it was projected that at least 50 ambulances would be in the country by December 31, 2024 and the balance 106 ambulances by May 31, 2025.