Globe Computers laptops for MPs K0.5m each  — Malawi Parliament clarifies

Parliament secretariat has clarified that the HP laptop computers delivered to all 193  Members of Parliament (MPs) were not  valued at K1.1 million each but  under K550 000.

The  Nation newspaper reported  that each laptop had cost  K1.1 million which  was on the higher side when compared to prevailing prices on the market for laptop computers of similar specifications.

But Parliament spokesperson Leonard Mengezi clarified that the actual price for the laptops was K550 000 each and that they were purchased  to facilitate the MP’s work.

Mengezi said the supplier, Globe Computer Systems Limited, offered teh losest  price at K112 131 250 from among 10 suppliers who had bid.

He said Globe’s quote without factoring in value-added tax were K450 000 fro an HP laptop and K470 000 for a Dell machine.

“If you factor in VAT at 16.5 percent, each HP machine was bought at K534 250 while each Dell machine was secured at K547 550,” said Mengezi.

In 2007, legislators also received laptops from the National Assembly.

However, the MPs could not use the gadgets in the chamber as there was a ruling barring legislators from using electronic gadgets, including laptop computers, in the House.