By Priscilla Phiri:
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has issued a restriction notice to the Ministry of Health from dealing with contract for construction and drilling boreholes with Pyramid Civil Engineering and Matthews Boreholes due to lack of capacity.
According to a Press statement released on October 5, 2022 by ACB Principal Public Relations Officer, Egrita Ndala, the restriction notice has been given to the MoH following the allegations that the Ministry was intending to award a contract to drill 125 boreholes in North Zone, Central-East Zone, Central-West zone to Pyramid Civil Engineering and Matthews Boreholes though they do not have the capacity to do the work.
The Ministry is restricted from the contract until the ACB has concluded the investigations or lifted the restriction notice, reads the statement in part.
The Statement highlights that the ACB has acted in pursuant to its powers under Section 23 (1) of the Corrupt Practices Act.
Earlier this year, the Ministry through the PIU/Global Fund/GAVI advertised tender for the procurement of the drilling and construction of 240 boreholes in various health facilities in the country with funding from Global Fund COVID-19 Grant in line with government efforts to intensify COVID-19 mitigation and control measures across the country, according to a public notice released by the Secretary for Health.
The notice further stated that Ministry in compliance with the Section 48 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act No. 27 of 2017 notified Malawians and all bidders its intention to award the contract after conducting the evaluation and approval process.
Among others, Pyramid Civil Engineering and Matthews Boreholes Joint Venture were awarded a contract amounting to K 194,796,200.00.
