Malawi’s Attorney General has announced that the contract awarded to Techno Brain in March 2019 to upgrade the passport issuance system and introduce the e-passport has been terminated and the company has been served with the notice today.This contract was worth USD$60 million.
Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda insists that government is not under any obligation to pay for the loss of profits following the termination of a contract .
Nyirenda has said this after government has served Technobrain a 30-day notice of contract termination based on Section 46(e) of Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act.
Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda
According to Nyirenda the Act does states that government is not under any obligation to pay for loss profits but only for services rendered and goods supplied.
In 2019, the Government awarded a US$60.8 million (about MK50 billion) electronic passports contract to Techno Brain Global FZE for the supply of 800,000 passports.
The Tonse Alliance during campaign promised to reduce the passport fees to K14,000.
Last year, President Lazarus Chakwera blamed the Techno Brain contract for his government’s failure to reduce the fees.
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Principle Public Relations Officer, Agritah Ndala has asked Malawians to join hands in the fight against corruption which she said is rampant in the country.
Ndala was Speaking, Wednesday in an interview alongside on an anti-corruption parade which was funded by Medical Aid Society of Malawi (MASM) and started from Chibavi Primary School Ground to Mzuzu Central Market.“As a bureau we organized this parade as one of the means of creation awareness on corruption so that in the long run we a corruption Malawi. Malawi 2063 cannot be achieved if the malpractice is not checked,” said Ndala.
She said the bureau however hope the Malawi 2063 can be achieved especially if Malawians embrace integrity and fight corruption as a team. In his remarks, Project Manager for Medical Aid Society of Malawi (MASM) Nickson Kaliati said the organization funded the parade as the malpractice also affects the health sector.
Karonga District commissioner, Paul Kalilombe has asked chiefs in the district to look into how they choose beneficiaries of Affordable Input Program (AIP) with an aim of giving coupons to right people.
Kalilombe’s remarks come as some farmers have already received the coupons and are alleged to be selling to vendors which shows that they are not supposed to be beneficiaries of the program. “The farmers who are selling coupons are showing us that they are not supposed to be beneficiaries, so we are asking chiefs and those in the department of agriculture to look into it so that beneficiaries are the right people who can make proper use of the inputs,” he said.
Karonga DC Paul Kalilombe
On his part, Chairperson for Karonga District Council, Bellium Msukwa, confirmed that there are indeed some people who are selling coupons to vendors. “We are also hearing of such development, like last year others even gave out their National identity cards, so we have advised them not to sell the coupons but rather make proper use of the AIP so as to yield more just like those who applied the cheap fertilizer yielded more,” he said.
In a separate interview, Group Village Head Mwangolera said selling of coupons was highly registered last year and has since asked her subjects not to sell the coupons because the government wants to help farmers yield more and not sell the coupons. “My advised is that, the government gives us such programs so that we can benefit by having a good yield, so let us not misuse this program, do not sell the coupons to vendors,” she said.
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has observed that Malawians have lost hope in the Tonse administration; arguing they are currently in a mood of hopelessness, loss of direction and betrayal .CCIP has added its voice to the growing calls for the Tonse Alliance government to listen to the cries of Malawians over the rising cost of living.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 entitled ‘Heed the Cry of the People; The Call of Moses‘, and signed by its National Coordinator, Boniface Chibwana, CCJP says failure by the majority of Malawians to afford basic needs is inimical to the social and economic development of the society; a real threat to the sanctity and essence of human life.
“God expects any leadership to do all it can to promote social justice for the people, His creation. When there is grave injustice in any society there is serious violence to people’s rights and dignity.“CCJP is deeply concerned by the prevailing undesirable socio-economic situation in Malawi, which has left many poor people hopeless and distressed.“We share the cries of the people of Malawi as they are genuine concerns that have characterized various aspects of service provision,” reads the statement in part.The statement quotes the Bible, Exodus 3:7“I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering”.CCJP says the existence of social injustices perpetrated, tolerated or neglected by those governing is an affront to the foundations of the Christian faith.
Boniface Chibwana
Social protection amid rising cost of living
CCJP says the soaring cost of living in the country is a threat to the enjoyment of basic human rights. We take cognizance of the fact that the situation may be as a result of global economic phenomena that have adversely affected the domestic macroeconomic environment.“This notwithstanding, CCJP reiterates that the government is obligated to cushion and protect the poor from such socio-economic shocks. With the poverty levels still very high in Malawi the current rising cost of living has potential to further throw many households in abject poverty. Merely preaching austerity measures and calling for patience from the citizenry by the Government is a mockery to human dignity and is tantamount to Government’s abrogation of its duties. It is deplorable that the prevailing social protection mechanisms do not comprehensively include marginalized groups like persons with disabilities, the elderly and the urban poor.“The majority of Malawians rely on the public health system which is already challenged in many ways. Reports of shortage of essential drugs and medical commodities amid questionable expiry of drug stocks at the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) raise critical health governance questions.“While CCJP appreciates the efforts done by the Government to rectify the defects rocking the public health sector, we are concerned that the authorities have not been transparent and accountable. It is clear that regular monitoring and auditing of the drug supply chain management was seriously wanting to allow drugs worth K2 billion expire at the CMST while the drug management institution is also reported to have incurred huge debts. The situation is worrisome and calls for urgent accountability actions by relevant duty bearers,” it reads.
Affordable Input Programme (AIP)
According to CCJP, the uncertainties surrounding the smooth implementation of the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) regarding the government’s contractual agreement with suppliers, logistical arrangements, pricing, availability and accessibility of the inputs are a great threat to the livelihood of many. It calls for the de-politicisation of the AIP to ensure its effectiveness and efficiency.
Delays in procurement of maize by ADMARC
CCJP notes that that the continued delays for ADMARC to buy maize from subsistence farmers would lead to the economic exploitation of poorest farmers.
Fuel procurement mess and politicisation
CCJP says it is “deeply saddened” with the reported mess in the fuel procurement at the parastatal, National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) as local transporters are still being side-lined and their voices ignored. CCJP feels that the lack of transparency and accountability in the shady introduction of a new fuel procurement system at NOCMA smacks of a slap in the face of ordinary and hardworking Malawians who deserve a good business environment.
Hopelessness
According to CCJP, the prevailing mood in the country is that of hopelessness, loss of direction and betrayal. It says the Tonse Alliance government was voted into power because its campaign promises gave hope to most Malawians regarding being taken out of dehumanizing levels of poverty. It says recent street demonstrations are the beginning of the manifestation of people’s hopelessness, feeling of having been betrayed and their anger.“The citizens’ anger is fuelled by the general perception that the country lacks decisive leadership. We pray that while citizens have a right and duty to express their dissatisfaction with the performance of their government everything should be done according to laws of the land,” reads the statement. Among other considerations, CCJP says the government should urgently institute inclusive and transparent social protection mechanisms to cushion the poor from the social economic hardships.It says the ACB should effectively investigate potential elements of corruption and rent seeking surrounding NOCMA’s operations and that the logical conclusion to the cases be expedited; that the government ensures that Public Sector Reforms are citizen centered that enhance social accountability in public service provision; and that the Government should match its decorated local and international speeches with actions that would benefit Malawians; that the government should heed the cry of the citizens.
