THE Kingsley Chanda Commission of Inquiry investigating corruption at the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) yesterday heard that the authority single-sourced a Chinese firm called Nuctech to supply and install the Nakonde border scanners at a cost of more than K130 billion (US$25.6 million).
Appearing before the commission that sat for the first time at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday, Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) director general Samuel Chibuye also said another firm, Bradwell Global Corporation was single-sourced to manage the system contrary to the law.
President Michael Sata formed the commission of inquiry to probe ZRA last month after he had stopped the institution from paying K4 billion to Bradwell Global Corporation that was engaged to manage the scanners at Nakonde border post in the Northern Province. Mr Chibuye said the former commissioner-general informed ZPPA in writing in 2008 that he had been directed by the Zambian Government to single-source on the basis that the scanners would be procured using a loan from China.
He said in the letter, ZRA said the instructions were that the Chinese government wanted Nuctech to supply the scanners, contrary to the requirements of the law that tender procedures must be followed even when a project was secured through a loan. Mr Chibuye told the commissioners that the Zambian Government then should have informed the Chinese government that the Zambian law requires that a firm engaged to supply and install goods worth that much should not be single-sourced.
Asked by Mr Chanda what he had done having realised the illegality as head of ZPPA, Mr Chibuye said his decision would have been shaped by the justification and it was clear that there were questions to be answered in the transaction. He said in his letter of April 15, 2009 the commissioner-general had sought a waiver of authority for the installation of four scanners but sought further authority for four other scanners and ZPPA does not know up-t-date how the other four were procured.
He, being new in his position, ZRA clearly knew that he would not understand that the earlier contract provided for four scanners and when they sought a letter, they stated that authority was being sought for eight scanners without explaining the contents of the old contract signed with Bradwell Global Corporation.
Mr Chibuye also said the board of directors for ZPPA stands technically dissolved following the change of Government because the provisions were that the board should be composed of ministers responsible for finance, works and supply, commerce, secretary to the Cabinet, attorney general, Bank of Zambia governor, a permanent secretary at the ministry of finance and two individuals from the private sector.
And in her submission ZPPA acting director of inspections and standards Gloria Ngoma said open tender system for huge amounts exceeding 30 billion could only be single in a state of emergency, when national security is affected and when the goods are of specialised nature.
She also disclosed that advance payments were not encouraged unless the contractor provides guarantees for the payment. Vanguard Investigations Limited managing director James Kasamanda submitted that all security covert private security firms had been stopped systematically from tracking operations at ZRA because of alleged increased corruption.
Captain Kasamanda said grand corruption takes place at the lower management level where individuals were paid to engage in illegality. He said at the time his firm worked with ZRA, it was discovered that firms that owed ZRA huge amounts of money were being erased from the computer after paying some officials about K15 million each.
President Sata last month dissolved the board of directors of ZRA and appointed the commission of inquiry to probe irregularities at ZRA. The members that sat included Sangayakula Sanga, Peggy Mulongoti, Martin Lukwesa, Agness Musunga and Fredrick Chishala. The sittings continue today.
[Times of Zambia]
I am number 1 millionnnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope these commisions bear fruit ! To much corruption ba Mambala !
SHARE WASTE I AGREE WITH THE SECOND COMENT LET PF CONCETRATE ON REAL ISSUES PEOPLE ARE JUST GETTING ALLOWANCES FOR FAKO
They need a Procurement Specialist to sit on that Commision to effectively scrutinise the submissions from the invited stakeholders. If ZPPA is a regulator of procurement, why then did they sit back & watch all this mess go on not only at ZRA, but in other areas like procurement of oil, maize, fertilizer etc. There’s no need for Samuel Chibuye to come out as an angel today when he was part of the regime that plundered govt coffers. Why was ZZPA quiet all this time?
This should send an alarm to other organs of the government. You can beat the system but one day you will be caught. Go ahead with the inquiry. I have confidence in the members that constitute the Commission of Inquiry.
This Commission of Inquiries has ALL of the Bembas except Peegy Mulongoti,who i suspect could also be Bemba!!!
SHAME ON WITCH HUNTING!
THESE DEALS WERE NEGINEERED AT HIGHER LEVEL AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE BOARD AND MANAGEMENT TO CHALLENGE THE CONTACTS. ITS UNFORTUNATE INNOCENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE GRAND CORRUPTION WEB.
Our Zambian professionals really lack professional ethics. Most of these corrupt acts have succeded because those charged with control functions didn’t do their job. They actually facilitated corruption. They should not be spared. We need to teach our workers to be accountable for what they are employed for.
#2 Are you sure this is not a real issue?
Sorry, I meant #3
Thats what you get when you have grade sevens doing big girls and boys responsibilities!
Kingsley Chanda was a commissioner at ZRA, What led to him being fired by the Levy Mwanawasa Administration?
pf gov single sourced the director general of znbc, zesco and FRA.
No wonder Kapoko from ministry of health stole billions and build a powerful lodge. Now I know there was no supervison as RB was busy flying in the air and feasting big time on Chisusu bokosi instead of providing leadership. They removed sick George Kunda and Shikapwasha Muteteka and others from the campaign team cause they had corruptly aquired a lot of campaign funds. kept secret the source hence RB surrounded himself with corrupt people to campaign for him.
can u imagine if RB had won the elections..Zed could have been managed like a farm…even PF must not be allowed to over-stay our welcome…
Yaba yenze sangwapo sure. RB RB ..this guys was too much a useless man. They turned Zambia into a Kantemba…non sense .
The blame goes to ZPPA these should be regulators,why leave such single sourcing to prevail for these large sums of money,this should have been done through open tendering process.Why!Why! Ba ZPPA should you doubt your integrity or what?
all the commissioners are bemba…
You don’t need a rocket scientist to see that this was theft. A scanner that can ne in just a few dollars cost millions? Please get them to jail and other will learn about this!
at first i had thought that these commissions are a waste of money but with the unveiling of scandals of ZRA,GOLD at dec AND BARLOSILAND ,iam seeing abd getting vital information in whhiich RB will be implicated and a later stage,he will be required to avail himself before the commissions at a later stage.PF should learn from the MMD the blunders they committd and work within the laid down procedures and seal the loopholes .but so far MCS & pf govt have made some blunders such as treasury,appoint of pipo at PRINT and znbc.mwamba,etc.my advise to MCS is work as a team.and not state house,and cabinet separately.hoping through this the mistakes will be minimal.
There are THREE main issues that are coming out of these submissions so far:
1. RB’s government was sleeping on duty while people went helter-skelter plundering state resources. The buck stops with RB and he must be held accountable for the corrupt practices that went on on his watch.
2. These people who were appointed as our gate keepers also failed in their duties for fear of losing their jobs. If that is the case then they are also corrupt because they benefited from the corruption by keeping quiet.
3. We need to know what ‘political pressure’ means. If someone picks up a phone and tells you to do something that you know is illegal, is that political pressure, when you have not resisted or even suggested to them that what they are asking you to do is illegal?
Can we also be told who owns Bradwell Global Corporation
How much have they received from ZRA from incorporation.
What other business are they engaged in and
Who are their other clients.Was ZRA their own client?
Simple questions but not quite…!!
#22 Iam also interested in knowing who bradwell g co is? not another jimbo thing I hope!
Corruption ruins countries. Shame as Zambia has the potential to be a lovely country.
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