…AFTER AN UPROAR FOLLOWING REVELATIONS THAT THE MOST EXPENSIVE BIDDER HAD BECOME THE MOST PREFERRED BECAUSE OF GENEROUS KICKBACKS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED TO PERSONS HIGHLY POLITICALLY INFLUENTIAL
BY NATION REPORTER
ATENDER in which the most expensive bidder was to be awarded a contract for the supply of Urea fertilizer for 2023/2024 farming season has been cancelled.
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The cancellation follows an uproar and outrage from among other players, with existing stock, and whose bids were more competitive but not among the preferred bidders, sources within the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) have revealed.
The sources say the bidders were further incensed by revelations that some players who did not bid were among those preferred and likely to be awarded the tender.
They said the tender was calling for the supply and delivery of 120, 380 .25 metric tons of Urea fertilizer, which saw the most expensive bidder emerging as the most preferred, all for kickback reasons.
The sources reveal that the cancellation of the tender was to create an artificial emergency that would lead to the single-sourcing of Urea fertiliser and facilitate the inclusion preferred bidders and others who did not bid.
In the last farming season, the tender for the supply, warehousing and delivery of fertiliser was cancelled more than three times resulting into the delay in the delivery and distribution of fertilizer across the country.
And yesterday, it immerged that government officials had opted to disregard the competitive pricing factor and decided to directly award the tender for the supply of fertiliser for the coming farming season to suppliers who did not existing stock in the country.
The disregard to observe and adhere to procurement laws, it has been disclosed surprised officials from the Ministry of Agriculture as well as experienced industry plyers with existing stock but not preferred.
The outrage and uproar erupted after it had become unpleasantly clear that competitive bidders with existing stock were not among the preferred suppliers because a cabal of high-ranking government officials close to the powers that be had allegedly received some generous kickbacks from some named players.
According to officials within the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), the tender for the supply, delivery and warehousing of Urea fertiliser for 2023/2024 agriculture season had been cancelled for auditing purposes.
“The tender has been cancelled to create an artificial emergency situation so that preferred bidders for a cabal close to the powers that be can have time to squeeze in preferred parties at exorbitant rates. There is a cabal associated with the powers that be who have received generous kickbacks from some bidders and are delaying the process.”
“When tender results were released and it was found the preferred bidders were at the bottom because their bids were uncompetitive, the cabal were out under pressure to deliver. They have thus delayed the process and let it drag on for fice months to then cancel and claim an ‘emergency’ in order to directly source from those who had greased the wheels of the cabal,” the sources said.
The sources said the procurement for the 2023/2024 Urea requirements for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) was conducted through an open international bidding process.
They said the Ministry of Agriculture solicited and received bids through the Electronic – Government Portal (E-GP) in April 2023 and that the automated system alerted all bidding parties to the competitiveness (pricing) of their bid and standing in the process in accordance with the ZPPA Act.
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