LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-There is a pack of lies that have been making the rounds on the social media concerning the recent award of a contract to supply and maintain generators on the two islands of Likoma and Chizumulu through the Malawi Rural Electrification Program.
This tendering process was done in a rather open and transparent manner from the word go until to the present day.
Several attempts and machinations failed to yield results because the process went through all the expected norms and standards.
To begin with the tender was advertised in the two widely circulated newspapers in the country and was open to all deserving companies.
The opening of tender documents process was done in such a manner that all the companies that submitted bid documents were present at the Opening of the documents.
Their agents and officers did observe the whole process and made it known that the process was open and transparent.
After this the internal procurement committee sat and did the evaluation process.
At this stage Malawi government procurement standards enshrined in the public procurement and asset disposal act were followed along side international set standards since the country is doing business in the global village where transparency and accountability is the norm. Other than this there was no way such a huge tender would cut corners and use other unregulated means.
Upon completing this process the ministry of energy submitted a letter seeking of no object from the office of the PPADO and also for their attention.
At this juncture the office checked if all the expected standards and procedures were followed as laid down in the public procurement act plus the international procurement system.
A team of experts and lawyers did this noble job. At the same time this was also submitted to the Anti -Corruption Bureau and other law enforcement agencies like the National Intelligence Service for their input.
Here the idea behind is to see to it that no contract is awarded to a company with any strings attached to criminal activities or Corruption.
This process has been enforced after the discovery of cash gate In the public service.
So for the above company to qualify it meant that it had clean hands and has never been involved in fiend like business dealings and has always been in good books with the tax collectors.
The whole purpose was to avoid such gossip and lies in the future.
Because a file containing the vetting process and allied activities is now open to all who might be in a position to raise eyebrows.
After the public procurement office the no object letter is forwarded to the Government Contract Unit to deal with the process of preparing the contract.
However, this office brings in several checks and balances to the table.
Any slight mistake it is referred back to the concerned ministry to explain until it’s in conformity to government expected standards and procedures.
From this office it’s when the ministry advertise in the public media indicating it’s intentions to award the contract.
Now CRECK Hardware and General Supplies satisfied the internal procurement committee with both the financial and technical plan.
It means that the amount charged of MK952,630,304.00 included inspections fees of eight officers, the expert who will fly in to come and do the rigging and installation of the machines, training and skill transfer plus the transportation of the machines to the two islands to mention but few.
Now other players like Barloworld Limited had their tender bid displaying MK1,024,945,612,80 while PAC Fargo had MK 1,729,945,612,80 and Gorden Star Contractions was at MK1,550,000,020,00.
But others like FES pegged it in US dollars 1,125,883.86. Look at these figure and compare with MK 399,944,610.70 for Skywaves Private limited of a Mr Ngoma.
It’s very unlikely Skywaves Private Limited was going to manage to supply the equipment and machinery of value and with all the expected package of bringing experts and back up system.
As for the previous jobs and contracts by CRECK Hardware and General Supplies the company has supplied prepaid system and metres for the Southern Region Water Board, Lilongwe Water Board, Blantyre Water Board and Escom Malawi limited. Their services have always been of great standards and up to date they are a well respected supplier.
Other than this they have also supplied generators to the United Nations system in the country.
The company has it’s head office in the Same building where the Regional Lands office is situated in Lilongwe behind FDH bank in area three.
It’s not a small office as alluded to in the gossip and lies sticker trending on social media.
It has a workforce of over twenty person’s on permanent basis.
It has a subsidiary called CK Unique Ceramics in Corporate Mall.
The company has done a lot of corporate responsibility investments in Rumphi, Dedza, Thyolo, Mulanje, Lilongwe and Mzimba.
In winter every year over 5000 blankets are donated to the aged and children.
In summer maize is donated to those in needy and after November fertilizer is also donated to the aged.
Very soon the company it’s launching it’s university scholarship program.
