Minister Kumpalume embroiled in MK50m bribe from MP Bisnowaty over multi-million contract at Malawi health ministry
Malawi’s Minister of Health Dr. Peter Kumpalume, MP, has embroiled himself in a procurement controversy after he allegedly receiving a MK50 million bribe from fellow Member of Parliament, David Bisnowaty, and Nyasa Times has established.
The youthful minister has since embarked on a journey of intimidating procurement officers including a donor representative in the Ministry, a Procurement Oversight Agent, to press them to overturn the evaluation results for the procurement of three digital x-ray machines, the tender of which was already won by a company called Biocare Ltd, and the Minister wants the contract to be awarded to Bisnowaty.
The digital X-ray machines tender is in the legion of $1.6 million.
Nyasa Times sources within the ministry corroborated that it all started with Mr. Bisnowaty writing a letter of protest to Ministry of Health for having not won the tender despite that his offer had major technical shortcomings in that he did not offer to supply Picture Archiving Central System (PACS) against the tender requirements.
Two days later, the Minister started summoning procurement officers to his office to dress them down on the outcome of the evaluation process.
This is despite the procurement officers explaining to the Minister that the evaluation was conducted professionally and impeccably and that Mr. Bisnowaty’s company, Medical Consultants Africa (MCA) Ltd, had genuinely failed to meet some technical requirements.
The Minister under pressure with the hefty gratification from Bisnowaty, kept saying that he had Googled for the price of digital x-ray machines from manufacturers and that the price of one machine is about USD500,000.00 and that the price that the Ministry is paying Biocare Ltd pegged at USD 533,333.00 per machine is too expensive.
“Although we attempted to reason with the Minister that factory prices do not include other costs like freight costs, insurance costs, engineer’s airfare and accommodation etc, the Minister did not budge but to insist that he wanted the contract to be given to Mr. Bisnowaty’s MCA Ltd because although MCA Ltd was ranked No. 4 on the evaluation chart but was cheaper by about USD 60,000.00,” said Nyasa Times source from the procurement department who pleaded for strict anonymity.
“We tried to school the Minister that in evaluation we look at more things than just the price. If it was just the price that we were looking at then why conduct an evaluation? The winner would just be determined from the lowest read out price at the tender opening then. Every bidder is supposed to meet all the technical specifications specified by the Client in the bid which includes experience to supply similar goods in the past, experiences of installation engineers, after sales technical capacity among many other requirements and price consideration comes last.
“After blasting us and threatening us with dismissals it is when rumour started to make rounds that the minister was bribed with K50 million from Hon. Bisnowaty. There is no secret under the sun. The minister is now under pressure to cancel the contract so that it is awarded to his friend Bisnowaty,” added the source.
According to our source, the Minister did not stop there but went on to summon the Procurement Oversight Agent (POA), who is a German national, to his office to quiz him on the same.
On his part, the POA told the minister point blank that he did not see any flaws in the evaluation when he reviewed it and the evaluation report was further reviewed and passed by the Internal Procurement Committee (IPC) of the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Director of Public Procurement (ODPP) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) before the contract was awarded and signed.
The POA went on to advise the Minister that any attempt to cancel the contract will have serious legal repercussions and that even if the contract is cancelled the award cannot be changed to another bidder. The whole procurement process will have to start all over again.
Some of Malawi’s key donors have since expressed concern over the summoning of the POA who reviews all procurement contracts to safeguard donor interests.
One donor agent who opted to remain anonymous told Nyasa Times the political interference in procurement is shocking, unprecedented and recipe for fraud.
He said the donor community has all the confidence in their Procurement Oversight Agent whom he had described as the man of “high integrity” and that he would not pass anything that is seen to be dubious.
The new Minister of Health seems to be in a big hurry to get rich quick. He wants to make hay while the sun is still shining.
Lately he has been clandestinely frequenting Bisnowaty’s drug manufacturing factory (SADM) in Kanengo and Bisnowaty also spends a lot of time at the Minister’s office at Capital Hill, in some instances up to 7 o’clock at night.
It is also believed that the Minister has lately been pressurizing Central Medical Stores Trust to procure more drugs from Bisnowaty’s company.
Bisnowaty denies any corruption allegation involving his business dealings.
According to the MP, his detractors are “cooking” up stories for him.
“I am hitting on people who are stealing money and they will cook anything against me,” he said.
Kumpalume could not immediately comment.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Malawi should deport Bisnowatty to Israel where he originates from.He has no interest to help Malawi and has been swindling each government starting with Muluzi and now with APM.Even the rebuttals he made are just basic nonsense.
David Bisnowaty ndi Heatherwick Ntaba are partners. Ntaba wanted to sell the Malawi Congress Party Headquarters to Bisnowaty. Had it not been for John Tembo putting his foot down and saying “over my dead body”…Congress ikanakhala ikuchita rent kwa Kawale. Bisnowaty only managed to steal a portion of the Malawi Congress Party land to build where his petrol station is. What a thieving Jew. And this is nothing with anti semitism…you fool!
Once a Jew always a Jew. I mean being scrupulous in business deals. Well, this is a golden oppoturnity for APM to show everybody he does not condone corruption. He should dismiss Kumpalume, after investigations, and shame him if indeed the alegation is true. Others will learn a lesson from the action. Otherwise , by doing nothing, we will conclude he is party to the scum and, therefore, prove beyond reasonable doubt that he is Cashgate god father.
I peronaly believe the technocrats have adequately advised the minister; only that the K50m smell has wiped out any sense of morality in him.
Talking of procurement officers, ESCOM has a competent procuremrnt manager supported by a credible procurement committee and, indeed, junior procurement staff. Why then bloat the Department by employing a PROCUREMENT SPECILALIST? Just see the mansion he has built. From his salary? Maybe.
Sick Nation
Typical of Jews
Snob leaders this is all they have for us, Malawi when are you growing and offer your citizens good fruits. Why do you favour only the rich otherwise this has to be clearly looked into and the law take its cost-we are tired of hearing same stories only done by different people…
I smelt a rat already. Sure!
Everywhere procurement personnel are always thieves. In Mangochi we have just received a new Procurement officer for the district council Mr. KHOKHO but alas he is a damn big big thief. He is doing all the procurement works alone for the departments in the district and demanding kick babcks from all the suppliers . Then what is our job as the procurement staff in these departments. KHOKHO wants to make quick quick money from government. Whatever you are doing we know it soon you will be under the sun. Slow down KHOKHO you are young.
Pliz leave Hon Bisnowaty alone. He hates corruption. Those of you who don’t know him, he is a smart person. Tell us about those who abused CDC funds.
KAMLEPO KALUA ARE YOU THERE ?????????????? PLEASE CLOSELY WATCH FOR US AND GIVE US INFORMATION. IN THIS COUNTRY WE BETTER FIND RELIABLE MEANS OF DEALING WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS THIEVES WHO ARE STEALING OUR BILLIONS AND WALK FREE IN THE NAME OF THEIR MINISTERIAL POSITIONS. GOD WILL GET RID OF YOU ALL. IT MAY NOT BE TODAY BUY HE WILL DEFINATELY ACT.
Please don’t be cheated,working in uk doesn’t mean you are rich,remember politics in Malawi is a big investiment hence hudge profit.Look at your so called APM who was he when he was coming from USA,today he is swiming in a pool full of Maluvera.Mbava!
No wonder Bisnowarty is being paid millions by Ministry of Health for the work he never did at Kamuzu Central Hospital Xray machine, Malfawians vwhen I say millions of kwachas understand it and his payments are pushed by minister himself and his PS Magwira like an express bus. These guys (Bisnowarty, Minister Kumpalume and PS Magwira) are really serious to make quick money from government. Do you know Bisnowarty is the only Consultant/technician who services all xray machines in all our hospitals, that is why the PS has fired all old staff at Ministry of Health so that they bring their preffered staff for easy stealing because the new staff will not interrupt their system. Bisnowarty is a crook guys, he doesn’t service machines in our machines in hospitals so that patients are
reffered to his facility at ABC yet ministry of health pays him heavily. Malawians are quite and good people BUT soon you will not believe what Malawians will do.
Kodi mukuti amagwira ntchito ku UK, ntchito yanji? Uk Uk mfwemfwe mfwemfwe!!! mxiiii.
Investigations will reveal the truth. BASI!!! Osati muyambe kugamula apa. Innocent till proven guilty or the reverse?
Nsanje pa Malawi. Ndithudi sititukuka. A procurement ndi mbava za wanthu si sewero apa mwagwa nayo,kabwezeni mwadyazo basi game yagona
Get rich or die trying!
there will be time when Malawians will be acting than only commenting, be careful! Mark my word
I am looking forward to official word or investigation about this matter. It sounds too unreal; definitely not when government is yet to resolve the cash gate issue to convince the so called donors to resume financial support to Malawi!
A whole minister being roumoured to be taking a bribe and trying to circumvent the procurement process? Really?
The sooner government makes a pronouncement on this matter the better. In some countries a romour of this nature would lead to the minister either being immediately removed or voluntarily resigning to allow for investigations of the matter.
Many people within and outside the country are awaiting the Government’s reaction.
Who Ever is Behind This, It shall Be Well With You. I have Known Hon. Bisnowaty for about a year and few months now, this is enough time to realise the kind of a person he is. He is one of the numbered people who have no a sleep until the realise the have changed something to better, he is a hater of corruption, and he has love for this country and its people. He is a born leader, and this i believe it shows how much people fear him for what he’s becoming, so cooking up stories will it save you from such drama, cashigate blanders? Leave Kampalume alone too, he is there for a good course….
The guilty are always afraid know Hon Kumpalume he is one of malawi best… Procurements officers in MoH and govt are thieves…ACB investgate their family and properties you be shocked..your days are numbered thieves in government ask the clever Paul Mphwiyo ACB will catch you soon
Thieves everywhere. Who will ever feel sorry for us? Common thieves in the name of ministers
Let’s ACB Peter Kumpalume cannot and is the type of cashgaters this is the work of ministry of health who were just dismissed of stealing CDC USAID money we know that and donors know as well..Hon Kumpalume left a good job in UK to assist his country but we know the thieves are too afraid they want him out but God is with..all thieves in ministry of health your days are numbered we know you…..Mr President know this..what is 50 million to Hon Kumpalume how left a good job in UK to help his people..am sorry on this you have goofed all thieves…
Acb stupit body
They will not touch dpp
A dpp typical style of making money
Malawi darkness at noon
Muona nothing will happen
Thus the dpp style.may be amutuma abwana ake
These pipo dont believe in aerning a clean living but stealing!!
Mark my words nothing will happen.
Acb the most rubbish body
check with ODPP it wasn’t only Bisonowaty that complained about the evaluation of this tender.
Where is ACB and NIB in our Malawi?
My fellow Malawians, the problem in Malawi is Jealousy. Hon Bisnowaty started running Businesses long time ago.
He was the first Malawian to open a Shopping Mall called Bisnowaty Shopping Mall at City Centre.
He is currently still working hard assisting Malawians through Parliament.
So its not true that he can be engaged in bribery acts.
Chitsiru mu yuda and Kumpalume are all thieves. Mu Yuda is stealing money from Ministry of Health through procurement and he has been doing this for may years and provision of drugs by overcharging while he provides few medication. Silly thieves. Please arrest both of them now and now now,
Kumpalume is a fraud…He pocketed millions of Kwachas from Chanco when he went to UK for further studies but neva returned. He shld pay bak th money…How can a person with such a dubious character be a minister. Only Peter knows….As for David…what can I say? MCP knows beta….I rest my case..
Anthu a procurement amakhala mbava…. Kutereku minister yu wakumenyani m’mimba nde mwaganiza zokamba mabodza! Mwakhaula ng’omboli
The minister must be fired if dpp is in for serious business.the step thereof be strong signal of apm against such tendencies
Fire the Minister and arrest the mwenye
I know this Bisnowaty guy, this is what he does. He also did exactly the same with the Nkhotakota Hospital project with Ntaba as Minister. Ntaba reached the extent of demanding all tender documents and did his own evaluation, which favoured this guy. The tender process had to be restarted, after playing around with the lots, to give advantage to Bisnowaty. The hospital buildings remained idle for almost a year after construction was completed, while waiting for the restarted equipment tender process to finish. That is Bisnowaty for you.
Its sad that after 50 years of independence we still have imperialists overseeing our procurement process. What’s wrong with mother Malawi? God should really help us.
ACB that is your job investigate and quiz the minister on the allegations leveled against him
kodi???????????
DPP ndi chipani cha mbava and thugs.Mark my words
Bisnowatty started stealing during Muluzis time.Government used to pay him money for supply of drugs and he only supplied 20% of the requirements.Then Ministers went to collect the cash and use the same for campaign.The system was further improved by one Bingu Wamutharika of the Mpumulo wambava fame.This is why the guy got funds to buy SADM and also buy the plot next to MCP.He should resign and ACB should prosecute him even before Mphwiyo since this is a straight forward case.Mzunguso atule pansi udindo .Munayamba kale azungu ndi amwenya pano mawonjezera ma china kutibera.Enough is enough.
That’s very sad!!
This person is too pompous I’m you! Sheeeeee!
Look at him trying to work hard as if he is not a thief! You look at people as if they are trash and you are the most important person God created, humble yourself and all shall be well with you. Thief! Thief! Thief! Thief! Catch him! Catch him!
Mzungu uyu ndi mambala koopsa!
Ameneyo ndiye mulungu ali ku bvumbulutsa zinsinsi zo bisika m’boma la DPP.Kodi nanga inu ofufuzanu si munga fufuze ku:MRA ya ku Lilomgwe kuli katangale zedi.Komanso ku BWAILA HOSPITAL kulinso katangale zedi
APM. invoke a cabinet reshuffle immediately. Otherwise this smear will not spare you
My analysis to the story picks up the following:
The other costs seem to have been piled into the unit price per machine.
Comparison should have been unit price per machine excluding other costs.
A second comparison should have been on every individual cost: CIF, warranties etc.
Costs for accommodations and air fares are part of installation cost and should be part of the unit cost of each machine and not charged separately. In this case where the Minister found each machine costing US$500,000, installation costs is part of this by norm.
This is the Minister’s Ministry hence his mandate to query the price difference. This does not constitute any vested interest but if some one is supplying the same machine at US$60,000 less, then the best evaluation could have been inviting the best suppliers meeting the criteria to do a presentation in a Tender clarification meeting with all stake holders available. By doing this, you avoid all queries like these at once.
Fire the Minister soon soon and arrest this Mwenye boy
Nduna ya kuba iyi must be fired immediately
we are watching u biz whatever u call yourself.our church elders pls help us to pray for this evil pagan for 60 days to go hell and rot there.a lier,a thief, gambler,muderer.Malawians are tired with this thug
Mupaseni forced leave nayenso mumfufuze bwino ameneyi ngati anzake amene anapasidwa forced leave aja.
This Muyuda is a crook and thrives in crookedness in his dealings. He will do anything under this earth to get things go his way. Watch out for this man fellow Malawians. He does not lose anything because the bribes he gives out are factored in the bid amount he presaents,
Pali nkhani apa..ACB should immediately swift into this donor threating revelation.
Typical of DPP, full of thieves. Report this Minister to the ACB so that he is probed, charged and prosected. I know Peter will not do anything after he learns of this because he is mbala number one himself.