HRDC exposes ESCOM corruption on meters, poles: ACB moves in to investigate
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has once again exposed corrupt activities at Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (Escom), this time about a contract to supply meters and meter boxes they suspect was dubiously awarded.
HRDC, through its whistleblower initiative, has since reported the matter to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
ACB director general Reyneck Matemba has confirmed receipt of the complaint, saying investigations have started.
In the letter dated July 28 2020 signed by chairperson Gift Trapence, HRDC says Escom in September 2016 advertised for restricted tendering of 185 000 meters.
“The Escom internal procurement committee recommended that the contract should be awarded to Shenzen Intermeter Company Limited for the contract sum of $1 587 647.
“The Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority rejected the recommendation. In September 2017, Escom advertised an open tender for 193 000 meter boxes and 126 200 meters,” read the letter.
It says Escom split this into 10 lots with four lots for meters and six for meter boxes.
“Our investigations indicate that these were awarded to 11 companies, but all these companies are linked to the above mentioned [person]. Our investigations indicate that this linkage led to the cancellation of the tender.
“In 2018 Escom advertised for another tender this, too, was awarded to the [same person]. It is alleged this person was backed by powerful political forces and that the tender was manipulated,” HRDC claims.
Escom has also importing wood poles using Safari General Dealers for K4 billion using a cartel of seven companies ignoring Wood Industry Corporation Limited (Wico).
ACB recently pounced on Escom where it arrested the power utility’s former board chairperson, former chief executive officer and two others in connection with a K4 billion corruption probe.
The ACB also arrested former Escom director of procurement Fanuel Nkhono and senior procurement officer Emilias Kandapo in relation to the procurement scam at the power utility.
In recent years, Escom has been entangled in numerous challenges, including toxic debts and alleged corrupt practices that have in turn crippled operations and dented the power utility’s image.
In October 2018, it was revealed that Escom offered contracts to companies not registered with the Registrar General and avoided clearance from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority by splitting procurement deals.
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mmmh mzoopya ndithu koma.poyambila kuyankhula pandisowa,ambuye akuoneni ma guy
MMM
It’s difficult to believe that all this time we had ACB headed by experienced people, but thieves continue looting our country.
Let’s put this to stop please, kumanva kuti Escom ikuganiza zokweza mtengo ogulira magetsi pomwe 70% ndalama zikubedwa.
The truth of matter is the current Escom unit price can be reduced if CORRUPT people will be removed and prosecuted.
Safari general dealers , uyu ndi Gani….. inde yemweyo wa ma syringe/Rosa Mbilizi/mra….. koma ndiye Mwemye state capture
MCP needs to account for massive public money it benefitted from during Kamuzu’s era through forced party card selling and gifts to the Ngwazi. That is the beginning of justice and accountability in Malawi. HRDC if you are serious about these things that is one of your tasks to follow up.
You are out of context
During Kamuzu we paid makadi fees yes but we had good roads, medicine in hospitals, city workers who were painting roads and cut grass. We had police with enough resources and many more. Since we stopped making those makadi payments where are we now? Look at our hospitals, roads, police, and look at trash(zinyalara in our streets) can you tell me who was paying for those services?
Anthunutu miziganiza pofuna kuyankhula.
Agree but take note that there was no difference between the party and the government, they were one. It was ” zonse zimene za Kamuzu Banda”.The government paid the costs for the party through from buying vehicle fleet,salaries and buildings. Even the current MCP HQs was constructed with tax payer’s money. It’s unfortunate we did not have truth a recon commission just after from dictatorship.
You’re such a poor soul, very pathetic.
DPP Cadet pepa koma uchira ndithu
That was supposed to be done by Bakili Muluzi and even Bingu Wa Mtharika. Zangokuvutani ndithu.
Majority of the people were not born by then so forget about that.kumeneko timati kusowa mbalume
You are a big joker
Trepence that is good move. Also go to immigration and find out about permits. You can use the sample of Chidothi who was caught. Ask ACB to conduct head count of all people who have permits and compare with the number of receipts. Ypu will notice that there are more permits than receipts because the money ends up in officers pockets.
So this hrdc is for mcp and it’s allies ?
Yes
Its for us, the looted money was not for MCP, it was for Malawians
Not for MCP but for Malawians. We want the truth from corrupt Dpp.
We now know why ESCOM is very inefficient in carrying out its mandate. How can the only company that supplies hydro power – pretty much a monopoly, be failing to deliver? Thieves are at the top – right from the Board level going down.
Gift trapence of hrdc does more to find corruption than reyneck matemba the current acbb director. Acb is useless chakwera should just abolish it and empower hrdc instead
Can’t agree more with u zakalia. Matemba is too weak for the job. Imagine he has said the Muluzi case needs a political decision thereby laying the case to rest as far as he is concerned, what a shame, this is a criminal matter, not politics. Let matemba go back to where he came from so we can have performers at acb please, no pathetic souls at acb during the Tonse Alliance administration. Malawi needs cleansing and urgently so. Matemba won’t do it. Also I have reservations with M. Kachale the DPP, cashgate cases are taking forever. Let her seek… Read more »
ESCOM is rotten