Court dismisses ACB over K6.8bn MERA contract: Kondowe fails to show cause on harassment of Kamoto
The Lilongwe Magistrate Court has refused Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) prayer to renew restriction notice, stopping the K6.8 billion contract to Terrastone Limited to construct a Malawi Energey Regulatory Authority (Mera) office complex.
In April ACB director Lucas Kondowe issued a restriction notice, stopping the contractor and Mera from proceeding with the construction works, forcing Mera to award the contract to Sogecoa.
ACB argued that they had received a complaint that Mera chief executive officer Raphael Kamoto had “unilaterally awarded the contract” and asked for all relevant documents for the procurement.
After the expiry of the restriction notice, ACB in its quest to put the project ‘in neutral gear’ applied ti Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court to seek an extension of the restriction notice to allow themselves more time to interview officials at Office of the Director of Public Procurement and Internal Procurement Committee.
ACB asked the court to extend the Restriction Notice for another 90 days on Terrastone and for Mera not to continue with the construction of the office complex.
But Principal resident magistrate Patrick Chilunga Chirwa ruled on Friday against ACB.
“With all due respect they [ACB] have not shown to the court why they could not do that within the initial three months of the notice,” said Magistrate Chirwa.
“To just assert that they need more time without being accountable for the statutory time limit already provided is not enough.
“There is no reasonable ground or cause on which this court would base a renewal of the restriction notice,” the Magistrate said.
He then ruled: “The court has no option but to dismiss application [by ACB].”
The issue here is simple if one cared to investigate : Kondowe anadya data a zaSogecoa . They promised to swing the contract their way , now they will have to pay the money back !
Mr Kamoto of MERA is an uncle to Saulos Chilima’s wife (Mary Chilima), Maggie Kamoto is Mary’s mother and sister to Mr Kamoto of MERA, He was appointed to MRA before moving to MERA. The rest of the puzzle you can solve as they can connive and share the commission received from Terrastone. Put a question mark on VP on this deal. Those are the fruits of employing relatives. Ndakutsegulani mmaso anthu omwe mukunyoza ACB.
I think the ACB should just call themselves as Corruption Burea(CB)
A Lucas Kondowe tangotulani pansi udindo. We want Malawi to start moving forward. You are the road block to our progress.