Mwenifumbo proposal for 60% of govt contracts to Malawians passes in parliament

Government will now be forced to award 60 per cent of all its contracts and other related business to indigenous black Malawians following a successful amendment on Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets amended by Karonga Central MP Frank Mwenifumbo.

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The new amendment was passed with other amendments of the Act aimed at curbing corruption in the awarding of contracts and prevention of a repeat of another cashgate, the looting of government finances and resources.

“Provided that a procurig entity shall ensure prioritization of all bids submitted to give preference to sixty per cent indigenous black Malawians and forty percent others for national competitive bidding,” reads the amendment provided by Mwenifumbo.

In an interview with Nyasa Times after the controversial amendment passed through parliament, Mweifumbo said Malawians had no economic independence and this controibutedd to slow economic development.

“Small and medium enterprises are economic engines for growth. That is why I proposed that 60 percent of government contracts should go to Malawians,” he said.

Another amendment is the curtailing of powers of the President in the appointment of the director of the office of public procurement.

Chairman of Budget and Finance committee Rhino Chiphiko said this was one of the best legislation parliament has ever passed.

“The ACB (graft busting body Anti-Corruption Bureau) will now be involved in early stages of procurement before a no objection is issued on single sourcing contracts,” he said.

The bill was passed after a long and protracted committee stage.

Mike Mlombwa, chairman of ABAM, a black empowerment movement welcomed the new Act and thanked Mwenifumbo and others for the amendments.

“We have been asking for this for long, thank God, finally we have what we had been asking for,” he said.

Activist and writer Emily Mkamanga said the passing of the amendments to the Act means the country is moving in the right direction.

The passing of the amendments however did not go without controversy as the government side in parliament did not participate in the voice vote.

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mwana wa mtengwa
6 years ago

Bola a Malawiwo azilhala ndi zowayenereza

Chunks peter
Chunks peter
6 years ago

Y talk abt roads tenders all tenders to b given to Malawians that’s 60%
And rgds to giving to ministers etc… the ACB and also PAC should b involved
Bravo Malawi

concerned citizen
concerned citizen
6 years ago

Look at what the Malawian contractors have done recently with the city and town road net work projects . Is this what we want to promote or we just want the contractors to make money for themselves leaving the rest of Malawians with poor infrastructure?

Owen singini
Owen singini
6 years ago

We need to understand that the problem with poor jobs is not the contractors but the institutions responsible for for ensuring that the contracts are carried out to agreed upon standards. WHERE ARE THEY AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THEY MUST BE TAKEN TO TASK.

Victor
Victor
6 years ago

Before you start celebrating: have you considred how the govt is going will track the 60%, over what period and which jobs. Nothing has changed!!

Namanyaru
Namanyaru
6 years ago

Oh my God! Now all roads will have a life span shorter than that of a fly!

Owen singini
Owen singini
6 years ago
Reply to  Namanyaru

Not if established monitoring and supervision I nstituitions will do their jobs uncorrupted!

Mpini Walezala
Mpini Walezala
6 years ago

60% awarded to MPs and ministers. What about the other businessmen and women?

Chingundu Pulika
Chingundu Pulika
6 years ago

THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW SHEEP IN WOLVES SKIN, TRY KUYENDA NAYE YOU WILL KNOW HIM BETTER. BUT THE WORSE IS YET TO COME WITH THIS AMENDEMENT REST BE ASSURED AFTER CLAPPING YOUR HANDS GUYS. WE ARE IN TROUBLE WORSE THAN CASHGATE, REMEMBER THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES THAT MUSHROOMED DURING THE ERA OF BAKILI MULUZI, LIKE CORREIA CONSTRUCTION ETC WHERE ARE THEY AND THE OWNERS? WHERE ARE THE MILLIONAIRES WHO USED TO TOUT THEMSELVES IN PARLIAMENT THEN NOW? REMEMBER HOW THEY ACCUMULATED WEALTH DURING MULUZI AND IN WHAT STATE ARE THEY NOW/ DZUKA MALAWI DZUKA

CitizenX
CitizenX
6 years ago

Weldone BWANA MWENIFUMBO, alot of money was going out of the country hence this country is not developing, now it is up to us Malawians to produce quality products basi.

wakikikiki
6 years ago

my MP karonga central u r realy a malawian, u were born in malawi, u will die in malawi. Continue fighting for malawians. Enawa akupanga zinthu ngati ndi alendo kkkkkkkkkkkk

ngwenyama wakwa jere
ngwenyama wakwa jere
6 years ago

I disagree to the amendment made, uyu wa ku malawi FARGO walephera ndipo anathawa nsewu wa highway Mu Limbe from Ilovo to Court round about. in the Name of promoting malawians Tipereka very important projects kwa akambele mbele. why is the society is quite pamene ndalama zadyedwa pa limbe pompa. where are you investigative journalists who resides in Bangwe and chigumula who pass through that road every day?

second thing 90% of companies which were involved in cash gate are and were owned by the so called Malawians , a clear indication that we cannot offer quality products.

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