High Court rules Transglobe is free to participate in Fisp

The High Court Judge Jack N’riva has made an order stopping the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture action to block Transglobe Produce Export Limited from being included into this year’s list of Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) suppliers.

The committee recommended blocking the company arguing that involving a firm which is under probe may compromise issues.

In July this year, the Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Director of Transglobe Rashid Tayub in alleged illegal actions in the procurement of 100 000 tons of maize from Zambia by the produce trader Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc).

But private practice lawyer Lusungu Gondwe representing Transglobe Produce Export Limited sought court relief over the recommendations.

“Until the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion for Judicial Review herein, the following decision of the respondent [parliament committee] is stayed,” ruled Justice N’riva.

Lawyer Gondwe confirmed the court granted Transglobe the order to stay the recommendations and that the company is now free to participate in Fisp.

“State agencies like Ministry of Agriculture and Office of the Director of Public Procurement [ODPP] in charge of Fisp have to deal with Transglobe just like any other bidder,” lawyer Gondwe said.

“He said the High Court was “satisfied” that the recommendations to exclude Transglobe would be “illegal, unreasonable and travesty of commercial justice.”

Chairperson of the committee, Joseph Chidanti Malunga, said they are yet to see the court order and that it will be respected.

Meanwhile, coupons are expected to arrive in the country from the United Kingdom on September 18 and the second consignment of the coupons will arrive on October 8 2017.

K33 billion was budgeted for use in the 2017- 2018 budget.