The Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) has issued a warning against forging its certificates through its public notice released on the 31st of January 2024.
This action comes after a court sentenced Harold Mwalambula, a former worker at the Japanese international corporate Agency (JICA), to 45 months in prison for using the authority’s forged certificate.
In a statement signed by PPDA public relations officer Kate Kujaliwa, the verdict which was declared on 29 January this year follows a series of incidents where individuals have obtained fake PPDA certificates often facilitated by individuals posing as intermediaries claiming to assist suppliers in acquiring PPDA certificates.
“Mwalambula who pleaded guilty in court is aged 46, and from traditional authority Kaphuka in Dedza district, he was employed as a procurement officer at JICA where he resorted to presenting forged documents to secure business contracts with his employer. The dishonesty was extracted by a fellow procurement officer at JICA who flagged an irregularity while scanning the QR code of the PPDA certificates which prompted further verification with the authority,” reads part of the statement
Kujaliwa said that the ruling underscores the gravity of the offense and should serve as a reminder that forging PPDA certificates is illegal and carries several penalties of up to 7 years under the law
The authority commended JICA for verifying the certificates and encouraged other organizations to emulate the same by always verifying by scanning the QR codes of the certificates to avoid being duped.
