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| National |
| ACB probes NFRA bosses over contracts |
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by
Joseph Langa, 29 September 2004
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09:23:15
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The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is probing allegations of corruption at the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) following a letter which some members of staff wrote to them.
ACB director Gustave Kaliwo confirmed in an interview on Monday that he received a letter “as ordinary mail” from some members of staff at NFRA asking him to institute an investigation into various allegations of corruption.
The letter which Nation Online has a copy accuses some top management officials at the agency (names withheld) of awarding themselves contracts to manage maize, supply sacks, threads and other equipment and to maintain fence and sheds.
The staff, who haven’t signed the letter “for fear of losing their jobs”, claim that their management is using some local business men of Asian origin and some foreign consultants and companies to bid for contracts on their behalf.
“Contracts for maize management are done with the South African companies and (they get) cash in RSA,” reads the letter.
“(The management) in the recent maize contracts has been advising bidders price ranges within which they should bid in order to be successful.”
The letter is also accusing the some members of the management of abuse of office and resources, citing employment of their relations and relatives of some board members.
Kaliwo said the letter has been referred to a complaints review committee to look into the allegations before deciding whether to institute a formal investigation or not.
“Investigations are not automatic,” said Kaliwo. “I expect to get a recommendation from the committee before I decide whether we should institute an investigation or not.”
Efforts to speak to NFRA general manager Patrick Makina proved futile because he was reported to be in South Africa.
But speaking on his personal capacity, NFRA depot supervisor for Limbe Clement Lwanda, who has been mentioned in the letter, claimed all the allegations are false. He declined to comment further on the issue.
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