Tag Archives: CMC Chairperson Philip Kamangirah

corruption, Lifestyle, Politics

CMC lauds ACB for disowning MK48bn Motal Engil Marka-Bangula Rail project

Maravi Post Reporter

………..Warns newly appointed Transport Minister Hara

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil right body Centre For Mindset Change (CMC) on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 lauded Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for halting a MK48 billion contract that was awarded to Mota Engil to upgrade the Marka- Bangula railway line.

The graft busting body disowned Mota-Engil Afria over allegations of corrupt dealings in awarding of the contract by Ministry of Transport.

CMC told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe that ACB’s decision vindicates the grouping’s series of exposure on corrupt deals Mota-Engil was involved to acquire lucrative contracts.

Phillip Kamangirah, CMC Executive Director says Mota-Engil misconduct must not be entertained in any contract Malawi government wish to advertise in future.

Kamangirah therefore called for more probe on evaluation committee that was tasked to award Mota-Engil contract arguing that individuals are tantamount to prosecution if found guilty.

“CMC would like to call upon ACB to carry out investigations on each and every member of the evaluation committee of this railway tender. The second paragraph of the press release by ACB clearly states that the evaluation committee departed from the requirements of the bidding documents when evaluating the bids and that they intended to award Mota-Engil without basis.

“This clearly shows that there was something that pushed them to do this. It is therefore our call again for Ministry of Transport and Public works to never allow such members to be involved in any evaluation in the future,” says Kamangirah.

He however warned the newly appointed Transport Minister Jacob Hara to seriously assess his officials in the ministry ahead of his task.

“The newly appointed Transport Minister must in mind that he heads the corrupt department that his service to the nation will be tested,” warns Kamangirah.

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.

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.

Law and order, Malawi

Chakwera dared not to visit Marka- Bangula Railway project amid contention

Maravi Post Reporter
Marka- Bangula Railway

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-President Lazarus Chakwera has been challenged on his plans to visit the contested construction and rehabilitation of the Marka- Bangula Railway section next week.

Chakwera is expected to visit the site on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 despite Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on September 3, 2021 put to hold the project amid Mota-Engil’s questionable competency.

Malawi’s graft agency suspends Mota Engil’s MK48bn contract for Marka-Bangula railway

This publication understands that President Chakwera will visit the project site alongside his counterpart President Philippe Nyusi of the Republic of Mozambique.

However, ACB is yet to release its findings on how the Ministry of Transport and Public works awarded Mota- Engil a MK48.2 billion Marka- Bangula railway section rehabilitation project amidst questionable competencies.

The development has angered the country’s civil right group Centre For Mindset Change (CMC) describing Chakwera’s plans to visit as an embarrassment to the nation.

CMC Executive Director Philip Kamangirah told The Maravi Post in interview that he is questioning the rationale on the Presidential visit in Marka.

“It is a serious a normally for the President to visit the project site when there is completely nothing on the ground to show off as compared to our counterpart.

“In this case President Nyusi has something to show off as we speak because the Mozambican government has already completed the project and ready for inauguration,” says Kamangirah.

He appealed, “This is the time ACB needed to have speed up the process of its investigations and release the findings to the people of Malawi so that this project can begin as soon as possible”.

CMC challenged Mota Engil’s performance record including corrupting our democracy through political party funding.

The grouping observes that Mota Engil has questionable competence following complaints that the company did not complete some of the projects it was awards previously.

Chakwera has developed an appetite for petty trips despite general public questioning such tours benefits that only waste taxpayers money.


Development, Lifestyle, Malawi

Malawi’s Nsanje chiefs call Chakwera’s Tonse Govt to swiftly identify Bangula- Marka Railway Section contractor

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Four Traditional Leaders in the southern district of Nsanje have called on President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse government to quickly identify another able Contractor to rehabilitate the Bangula- Marka Railway Section.

The call comes barely days after the country’s graft agency, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) stopped the Ministry of Transport and Public Works from awarding MK48 billion contract to Mota Engil for the upgrading of Marka-Bangula railway over corruption allegations.

Malawi’s graft agency suspends Mota Engil’s MK48bn contract for Marka-Bangula railway

Traditional Authorities (TAs) Ndamera, Nyachikadza, Makoko and Ngabu told The Maravi Post that while lauding ACB stopped Mota Engil doing the work they were however quick to say, the restriction would surely delay the project.

The chiefs observed that government is at liberty to get another contractor to start the work.

“We cant keep on waiting for years on a project that will help business and employment opportunities to the people of Nsanje and Chikwawa,” T.A Makoko urges.

T.A Ngabu chipped in, “We ask His Excellency the State President Dr Lazarus Chakwera’s government to look into this matter with urgency it requires”.

ACB gave a restriction to Ministry of Transport and Public Works a few days following a seven day ultimatum that was given to government by one of the country’s human, civil and political Rights watch, Centre for Mindset Change (CMC).

Malawi CSO dares Chakwera’s Tonse on Mota Engil’s MK48bn contract award amid questionable competences

CMC executive director Phillip Kamangirah told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 that Mota Engil has questionable competence following complaints that the company did not complete some of the projects it was awards previously.

The grouping therefore gave government seven days to nullify the contract failing which will seek legal assistance over the matter.

Development

“Let’s not politicize Covid-19 fight in Malawi”-CMC

Maravi Post Reporter
CMC Chairperson Philip Kamangirah

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-One of the country’s civil society Center for Mindset Change (CMC) on Friday, called upon Malawians not to politicize the COVID-19 pandemic but rather working together.

The grouping is rather urging the citizens to unite in fighting the pandemic.

In a press statement issued signed by its Chairperson Philip Kamangirah says the battle against the pandemic is for everyone not only government.

Kamangirah observes, “We are very much worried that some people are claiming government is using the pandemic to disrupt the Electoral process.

“This is not just unfortunate, it is also uncivilized and typical demonstration of political hypocrisy”.

Below is the full CMC statement made available to The Maravi Post

COVID – 19 has spread around the planet, sending billions of people into lockdown as health services struggle to cope.

Since being first recorded late last year in China, the COVID-19 has spread around the world and been declared pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

It is heart breaking to note that since 31st December, 2019 and as of 16th April, 2020, (2,029,930) cases of COVID -19 (in accordance with the applied case definition and testing strategies in the affected countries) have been reported.

Let us be mindful that in Africa alone, 17, 243 cases have been reported and most countries with most reported cases are (South Africa, 2,605), (Egypt, 2,505), (Algeria, 2,160), (Morocco, 2, 024) and Cameroon with 855. We know the disease is spreading so quickly.

This is no longer a regional issue, it is a global problem that requires collaborated efforts. As we speak Malawi has recorded 16 cases on the same according to records from the Ministry of Health.

It is against this background that we, the Centre for Mindset Change wish to express our shock that some Malawians have chosen the path to politicize the pandemic.

We are very much worried that some people are claiming government is using the pandemic to disrupt the Electoral process.

This is not just unfortunate, it is also uncivilized and typical demonstration of political hypocrisy.

We find such allegations to be heartless, insensitive, reckless and inhuman.

To begin with, we haven’t heard anywhere that the current administration is planning to disrupt the fresh election scheduled for 2nd July, 2020 as directed by the Constitutional Court.

However, if indeed government finds it necessary to do so, it can only do on the interest of the people of Malawi.

The government of Malawi has the mandate to protect its citizens and if anything seems to pose any threat to such a protection, the onus is with the same government.

We would therefore wish to call upon all stakeholders to prioritize the welfare of Malawians amidst political instability and make sure we detach the politicization of COVID – 19.

The whole world is in intensive care unit and it is an iota of mediocrity and naked demonstration of leadership malnutrition if we become careless on the pandemic.

Let us all stand together in fighting the pandemic

Let us have one voice

Let us protect the people of Malawi

Let us adhere to all guidelines

Above all, let us keep on praying for Malawi to remain the Land of Peace.

God Bless You All

Signed:

PHILIP KAMANGIRAH CMC Chairperson