Minister rejects fresh cashgate through outsourcing of private garages
Minister of Transport and Public Works Francis Kasaila has defended the bogus vehicle maintenance of unserviceable and uneconomic vehicles by various ministries and departments in what some sources at Capital Hill has described as another form of “Cashgate” which is benefitting officers on one hand and dubious private garages on the other while ripping off the taxpayer.
The Nyasa Times recently reported after random visits to various private garages in Biwi Triangle, Malangalanga, Kawale and other place in the Capital Lilongwe where it was revealed that a lot of government vehicles have been lying idle in these garages for very long periods of time which makes it possible for these to be used as a conduit of siphoning taxpayers money.
The development also comes hot on the heels of the recent order by Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) who have directed that PVHO should constitute a Board of Survey for all government plant and vehicles which is aimed at boarding off all outmoded vehicles which are uneconomic to run thereby causing a drain on public resources.
But Kutsaira has said the outsourcing of private motor vehicle inspectors, will significantly improve the delivery of services at the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) which falls under his ministry.
He dismissed any cashgate fears over government’s decision to outsource vehicle testing and inspection services to private garages.
The Minister said tje new arrangement will ensure proper certification of vehicles for road worthiness where DRTSS has not been able to adequately carry out the function due to lack of necessary equipment.
“The vehicle population has exponentially increased in the country and DRTSS has not been able to cope, the new arrangement will offer people choices and there will be many centres offering the services,” Business News quoted Kasaila as saying.
“At the moment the Ministry is in the process of selecting the private operators after they had expressed their interest,” he said.
He also clarified that despite the new arrangement, DRTSS will remain the Regulator and carry out oversight functions.
THE MINISTER IS NOT RUNNING AWAY, HE KNOWS WHAT WAS THERE, WHAT IS THERE AND WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW —GOOD MINISTER. VOICE MORE.
zinati kwana izi
They even tell us to increase our quotations so that they should get a 50% of the payment.
This is how not to create a catchy title. It is misinformation.
The word cashgate scares donors let us be cautious guys
Very true. Ku Blantyre kuli Stecelia motors, many government vehicles abandoned there, cash gate basi.
Thats Why juonalist were illtreated in the past kuchuluka mzeru
A Malawi ndinu anthu a nsanje oyipa. What the government is doing is to give business to Malawians small garage owners, to empower them. Instead of giving all business to multinational dealers who take away the profits the government wants to empower our local mechanics. You are saying No you want business to go to CFAO, Toyota, Stansfield etc. You are jealous of your fellow locals. Let these dealers concentrate on selling cars, garages concentrate on service and spare parts sellers do their part AND not the same dealer doing everything. Thats monopoly. Tiyeni tisiye nsanje a Malawi tizikondana.
Alibe nzreu a nyasatimes we are also suffering because of them ,we have important projects that donors have withheld funding our nearbours are developing here we are busy writing trash,ine ndikadzakhala mtsogoleri journalism ndidzathetsa shit waste of time no good things about your country only negatives kuba happens everywhere even in developed economies ,the duty of law enforcing Agencies is already there takambani za nyanja, chilengedwe and attract tourists so that we develop this is a small country with good cooperation we can develop fast koma same things all the time, you have lost credibility tell your managing director.
The Minister is here conceeding that indeed there is malpractice hence the need to have independent inspectors as control measure. He is not defending the expossure.