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A contractor in Mzuzu has accused National Roads Authority (NRA) of awarding a contract to a contractor who did not bid for it.
Eric Kaunda, one of eight contractors who tendered bids, said he was surprised to read in the Weekend Nation of October 30 that NRA had awarded contract number 6C/MZ/MZ/04 (Kaweche - Engucwini - Kazuni T308 road) to Northworks Limited alleging that the firm did not tender for it.
Kaunda showed Nation Online a list of contractors who allegedly tendered for contract. It does not have Northworks Limited.
“[It is] causing some concern on how decisions are arrived at and why should you tender when you already have people in mind,” queried Kaunda.
He added: “NRA is a national body and must be seen to be transparent and maintain its credibility at all times. It’s one thing to be awarded a project, but it is totally a different thing to be awarded a project when a contractor did not even tender.”
But NRA public relations officer Portia Kajanga said Kaunda’s list, which she demanded for “verification with her bosses”, omitted three contractors who included the winner.
But she could not disclose the other two names missing from Kaunda’s list and the amount of their bids.
While disclosing that the winner’s bid was less than that of Kaunda, Kajanga refused to disclose how the organisation arrived at the winning bid.
She also said she had resolved the “misunderstanding on the issue” with Kaunda.
“Mr. Kaunda might have just been over enthusiastic considering the money he put in his bid. But we have already talked the matter over,” she said.
Kajanga then pleaded with this reporter to stop pursuing the matter because it “could just paint a bad image” of NRA.
But Kaunda, while confirming a telephone conversation with Kajanga, categorically denied sorting out the issue with Kajanga.
He stood by the information he gave to Nation Online.
“Ask her to tell you what we exactly discussed. I cannot jump to reaching a conclusion. What I want is the nation to know what exactly is happening at NRA because that is a public body whose responsibilities every Malawian is entitled to know,” said Kaunda in a telephone interview.
He alleged: “She tried to lie to me that she was present at the bid opening forum at NRA headquarters. But when I quizzed her if she was really there physically, she changed tune and started saying her boss was actually there and not herself. I was personally there.”
When contacted for comment, Wickly Mhango of Northworks charged: “What is your interest in the story? Go and ask NRA. Go and see what is happening in Engucwini. If you want, come to my office”. He then cut the line.
According to Kaunda’s list, the seven other engineering firms which tendered for the project were Cilcon, Wasi, Sabmanyi, SS civil engineering, Deco, SOS, and HANET.
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