THE Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) has revoked the tender awarded to Mango Tree Construction Company Limited of Lusaka to build Palabana University in Chongwe district for cheating.
ZPPA has also suspended the company from taking part in public procurement in Zambia for one year.
ZPPA principal public relations officer John Chipandwe said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday that the company has been suspended for providing a forged academic qualification for one of its key employees.
He said the key employee claimed to have obtained his qualifications from the University of Zambia (UNZA) main campus, which was offered in collaboration with the National Resource Development College when that was not the case.
“With effect from 14th October, 2015, ZPPA has suspended Mango Tree Construction Company Limited from taking part in the procurement in Zambia for one year,’’ Mr Chipandwe said.
ZPPA made the decision to suspend the firm after carrying out investigations.
“Investigations were instituted after a bidder who participated in the tender for the construction of Palabana University in Chongwe district appealed against the decision of the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education to award the contract to Mango Tree Construction Company,’’ Mr Chipandwe said.
ZPPA has since directed all controlling officers, permanent secretaries, chief executives of parastatal and statutory bodies, town clerks and council secretaries of local authorities not to do any business with the company during its suspension.
let the chap get arrested like masumba
There are too many people with fake qualifications
There has been a deliberate and well calculated resistance to automating government functions, chiefly that to do with vetting of authenticity, especially linked to our institutions of learning. This is only helped by the attitude and mindset of “fikaisova” – or “fili eko tuleya mentality” or “si tender ya nyoko”.
Practice much more important than certifiate.