By Cathy Maulidi:
The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (Pac) has written Office of the President (OPC), ministries of Agriculture and Justice and Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets (PPDA) Authority demanding information on the East Bridge deal.
In letters, which The Daily Times has seen, Pac demands that the four offices should furnish the committee with all the names of officers who were involved in the deal, including in the identification, selection and awarding of the contract to East Bridge.
“The Public Accounts Committee has been following with keen interest [issues related to] the fertiliser deal between the Government of Malawi and a Romanian company East Bridge. The committee has learnt with concern the negative stories which surround this deal…
“The committee is also bothered by indications that the Government of Malawi might still have to pay the company huge sums of money whether the deal is implemented or not. In that regard, I have the honour to inform you Sir, that Pac will soon conduct a special public inquiry into the matter to determine the value for money and the due diligence of the officers who were involved in this deal,” the letter addressed to the Ministry of Agriculture reads.
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Pac says people from the four institutions have until Friday next week to furnish the committee with information.
When contacted, Pac Chairperson Mark Botomani confirmed the development but said he could not divulge more details.
“All I can say is that I can officially confirm,” he said.
Principal Secretary for Agriculture Dickxie Kampani said he is yet to receive the letter.
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“I have not yet received it. I’m sure it will come,” he said in a written response.
Solicitor General Allison M’bang’ombe confirmed receiving the letter from the committee.
“Yes, we have received it,” M’bang’ombe said.
PPDA Director General Edington Chilapondwa also confirmed receiving the letter from the committee.
“Yes, I can confirm that I have received the letter from Pac,” Chilapondwa said.
On his part, OPC spokesperson Robert Kalindiza said the office is yet to receive the letter.
