LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group, Centre for Mindset Change has expressed its bitterness and dismay over the conduct of Ministry of Transport and Public Works for its failure to adhere to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)’s determination over the Marka Bangula Railway rehabilitation project amounting to MK48.2billion.
CMC Executive Director, Philip Kamangirah told The Maravi Post in interview that his organisation is dissatisfied and worried with the conduct of officials from the Ministry of Transport and Public Works.
“We are all aware that the ACB issued a Press Release on 3rd December 2021, in which it directed the Ministry of Transport and Public Works to re- evaluate the Marka- Bangula Railway project following irregularities that were observed in the first award of the same contract to Mota- Engil.
“It is worrisome to note that the Minustryofficials have decided to defy such orders from a legally established institution like that of ACB,” narrates Kamangirah.
He further observed that CMC is aware of the shoddy deals and corrupt activities that continue existing between Mota- Engil and some Ministry of Transport and Public Works officials.
“Let Malawians be informed that as a Governance Institution, we shall fight to the end until those involved in this corruption cartel are brought to book,” warns Kamangirah.
CMC concerns comes barely a month after ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala told the nation on Saturday, December 4, 2021 that the bureau directed the Ministry of Transport and Public Works to re-evaluate the last three bidders within 15 working days.
Ndala said the bureau has directed the Ministry of Transport and Public Works to re-evaluate the last three bidders within 15 working days.
But the ministry has not heed to the order.
There was no immediate reaction from Transport Ministry authorities on the delay to act on ACB order.
The Marka-Bangula railway section has four stations, which are considered for rehabilitation, the four include Mark Station, Nsanje Station, Tengani Station, and Bangula Station. the contract however was awarded to the Portuguese Contractor Mota Engil at the initial sum of USD70,035,427.94.
The rehabilitation works commenced in March 2018 and the initial period of performance was for 14 Months, which implied that the project should have been completed in May.
In September this year, the ACB stopped the Ministry of Transport and Public Works from awarding the contract for the upgrading of the same project over corruption allegations.
The whole was put to halt after the ministry published a notification for intention to award Mota-Engil a MK48billion contract for the construction of the 72Kilometre railway line.
Mota-Engil emerged as the successful Bidder with the lowest price (MK48, 244, 861, 524.98) against two others, China Railway (MK59 906 673 465.11) and China Civil Engineering (MK79 766 540 032.76.
