Malawi cancels K40bn fertiliser procurement tender: See list of previous suppliers
By Nyasa Times
July 21, 2012
Malawi’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has announced cancellation of the Tender of the Procurement of Subsidised Fertilizer for 2112 – 2013 Growing season – IBF Number: 019/FERT/IPC/12/001. The ministry said the tender will be re-advertised “after reviewing measures for enhancing the implementation of the programme.”
According to Finance Minister Dr. Ken Lipenga, the major allocation within the Ministry of Agriculture budget in the 2012/13 National Budget he presented recently is for the Farm Inputs Subsidy Program (FISP) which has been allocated a total of K40.6 billion.
“These funds are for the purchase of 150,000 metric tonnes of fertilizers comprising 75,000 metric tonnes of Urea and 75,000 metric tonnes of NPK fertilizers which will be distributed to 1.5 million farm families at a price of K500 per bag,” said Lipenga when he presented the financial plan.
Before is the list of previous suppliers:
Fertiliser subsidy program
NOTICE OF 2010/2011 SUBSIDISED FERTILIZER CONTRACT AWARDS
Subject of Procurement: Supply and Delivery of Fertilizers
Procurement Reference Number: 019/Fert./IPC/09/010
Procurement Method: International Competitive Bidding (ICB)
Date: 18Th October, 2010
Country: Malawi
The Government of the Republic of Malawi through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security wishes to inform the general public and the international Community that contracts for the supply and delivery of subsidized fertilizers for the 2010/2011 Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) have been awarded to the below listed successful bidders.
NO.
NAME OF CONTRACTOR
TOTALCONTRACTSUM IN MK
ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR
1 Export Trading
1,349,926,240.00
P.O. Box 51722, Limbe
2 Farmers World
1,030,873,710.00
P.O. Box 1631, Lilongwe
3 Nyiombo Investments
2,103,315,071.00
P.O. Box 40654, Lilongwe
4 Sealand
866,342,361.00
P.O. Box 520, Lilongwe
5 SFFRFM
865,679,320.00
P.O. Box 2505, Blantyre
6 Mulli Brothers
2,211,331,734.00
P/Bag 5145, Limbe
7 Simama General Dealers
2,099,181,460.00
P.O. Box 258, Karonga
8 Malawi Fertilizer Company
545,293,100.00
P.O. Box 1631, Lilongwe
9 Optichem (2000) Ltd
740,646,850.00
P.O. Box 40039, Lilongwe
10 Farm -Chem
647,895,500.00
P.O. Box 51776, Blantyre
11 Xelite Strips Ltd
209,145,220.00
P.O. Box 1911, Lilongwe
12 Krish Trading Company
526,651,900.00
P.O. Box 353, Lilongwe
13 Astro Chemicals
659,262,100.00
P.O. Box 1251, Blantyre
14 Transglobe Produce
Exports
707,001,743.00
P.O. Box 5025, Blantyre
15 Mapeto Wholesalers
1,155,603,100.00
P.O. Box 5243, Limbe
16 Shire Ltd
1,072,626,970.00
P.O. Box 5491, Limbe
17 B & N Investments
234,989,917.00
T/A Mitundu, Lilongwe
18 Masina Investments
251,580,480.00
P/Bag 72, Lilongwe
19 Gassom Traders
193,989,780.00
P.O. Box 395, Lilongwe
TOTAL: 17,471,336,556.00
NOTICE FOR 2010/2011 TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CONTRACT AWARDS
Subject of Procurement: Transportation Services
Procurement Reference Number: 019/Trans/Fert/IPC/09/012
Procurement Method: National Bidding (NCB)
Date: 18Th October, 2010
Country: Malawi
The Government of the Republic of Malawi through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security wishes to inform the general public that contracts for provision of transportation services for the 2010/2011Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) have been awarded to the below listed successful transporters. This contract does not have total contract price as it is based on the availability of the contractedtransporter and the unit rate per kilometer per metric tone. Many thanks to all those who participated in the bidding process.
NO.
NAME OF CONTRACTOR
Unit Rate/Kilometer/Metric Tonne (MK)
ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR
Long Haul
Short Haul
Bad Road
1 Chizamsoka
Investments
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 11, Chitipa
2 Zingakake Transport
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 303
Liwonde
3 Salpha Enterprises
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 1122
Lilongwe
4 Mzati Investments
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 31140,Lilongwe
5 Yafuka Produce
Trading
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 197,Thyolo
6 Mulli Brothers
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P/Bag 5145,Limbe
7 Masina Investments
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 72,Lilongwe
8 Simama General
Dealers
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box X42,Lilongwe
9 The Road Transport
Operators
Association
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 30740
Chichiri
10 K C Freight
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 90218,Blantyre
11 Swank Haulage
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 489
Mzuzu
12 Farwest Investments
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 143,Mulanje
13 Mwenera Transport
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 410
Mzuzu
14 Peter’s Freight
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 305,Lilongwe
15 Mico Transport
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 1`279,Lilongwe
16 Anala Investments
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 205,Mponela
17 P. W. C. Investments
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 51274,Limbe
18 World Wide
Wholesalers
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 250,Lilongwe
19 B & G Transport
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 3,Mzuzu
20 Mag Logistics
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 31863
Lilongwe
21 Amajuba general
Dealers
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 20509,Lilongwe
22 Agricultural Produce
Transporters
Association
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 40165,
Kanengo
23 MEAR Trucking
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 40160,Lilongwe
24 I Investments
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 20439,Lilongwe
25 Northern Region
Transporters
Association
30.00
3,000.00
34.00
P.O. Box 598,Mzuzu
Labels: FSP, PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS, TENDER OFFERS
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Trafigura, Gunvor deals above board - Zulu
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 04 June 2012, 06:58 CAT
THE selection of Trafigura and Gunvor to supply finished petroleum products and crude feedstock was done above board, says energy permanent secretary George Zulu.
The selection of Gunvor of Russia to commence negotiations with the government for possible contract to supply of 1.4 million tonnes of commingled feedstock and Trafigura on the supply of 216,920,000 litres of diesel and 21,230,000 litres of unleaded petrol for the next two years, has raised an uproar with allegations of corruption being thrown at the selection process.
Some sources close to the transaction say the hiring of Trafigura would result in the country losing US$2.2 million annually as the firm's bid was fifth in price variances in which Dalbit of Kenya was the cheapest.
But Zulu said the current tenders were the "most open", dismissing all accusations of corruption in the process.
Zulu, who said there was "a lot of distrust" in the country, said the decision to hire Gunvor and Trafigura was purely done by technocrats he led from his ministry without "undue influence from above".
"What is the government not doing for me to go and accept a bribe so I end up going to jail?" Zulu said in an interview yesterday.
"A lot of people from my ministry feared to participate in this process because of previous experiences. What you are seeing now is a manifestation of what was happening in the past. There is a lot of distrust with anything that we do. This is the most open tender and it has been discussed everywhere, and it was done above board. We are as much loving of Zambians as all those concerned. We want to be of service to the President and people of Zambia. When the President says he is fighting corruption, he is serious. So, this deal was done above aboard."
Zulu said he was not concerned about reports of alleged environmental damage in some parts of Africa by Trafigura where it illegally dumped toxic wastes resulting in it being fined US$1million (about K5.2 billion).
And in a recent article dated May 5, 2012, The Economist magazine revealed that the Swiss-based Russian oil supplier, Gunvor does not report its profits despite recording a revenue increase from US$5 billion in 2004 to US$80 billion in 2011.
The article stated that Gunvor had been recording tremendous growth in revenue despite the decline in its share of Russian seaborne exports of crude oil.
The Economist stated that Gunvor, which is the Kremlin's favourite oil trader, trades in Urals crude, a benchmark blend in north-west Europe and there are indicators that the company buys oil in Russia cheaply and, in theory, earns inflated profits when it sells the same oil on the international market at full price.
But Zulu insisted the two companies would operate by Zambian laws if the firms successfully negotiate their contracts.
He challenged anyone with evidence of corrupt activities in the contract awarding process to report to relevant crime investigative wings.
"Trafigura is already supplying the country; they run Puma former BP in Zambia," Zulu said.
"So, companies must operate within our laws. In Zambia, we have got laws related to safety of our people and the environment and so, if they are not going to abide by our laws, then we won't allow them to operate in here."
Zulu also said Trafigura was selected despite coming fifth in terms of price because the selecting committee based its decision on stability of price and supply.
"If our decision was based on the cheapest company, Dalbit would have been picked but there are other issues that the committee evaluating the tenders looked at," said Zulu.
Labels: FUEL, TENDER OFFERS, TRAFIGURA LTD
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Sata accuses Shikapwasha of admitting tender manipulation for LITASCO
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
PF president Michael Sata has said chief government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has admitted that the government was trying to manipulate the tender process in favour of Russia’s LITASCO to supply and deliver crude oil to Zambia.
Reacting to Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s denunciation of his remarks on LITASCO, Sata said Lt Gen Shikapwasha ignorantly admitted the government’s manoeuvres to manipulate the tender process.
“Shikapwasha did not deny that the government was tampering with the tender process to favour LITASCO. What Shikapwasha was trying to do was to justify that the whole Europe gets oil from Russia. That is admission. What he was doing was admission,” Sata said. “Shikapwasha suffers from an incurable complex because he was justifying that Europeans get fuel from Russia, so why can’t we also get fuel from Russia?
That is why Shikapwasha has even abandoned late president Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy. No wonder tomorrow you will find that he has changed his name to Tembo Shikapwasha or Banda Shikapwasha.”
He said Lt Gen Shikapwasha behaved the way works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti behaved when he commented on the controversial acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba.
“Like the other time you remember Mulongoti confessed that the government acquitted Chiluba. Shikapwasha, while he was trying to be honest by saying ‘yes the government’, he was trying to justify [LITASCO),” Sata said.
He said Lt Gen Shikapwasha, in his media statement, failed to answer the questions that were being raised about the irregularities in the government’s plans to give a contract to LITASCO.
“When he condemned me, he said the whole Europe gets fuel from Russia. Now, the reason why Europe gets fuel from Russia is that Russia is nearer to where they are than the Middle East. But we in Africa we are much more nearer to the Middle East than Russia,” Sata said. “I am now glad that we are being proved right that corruption won’t take them anywhere.
This government must realise that it’s not only me and Hakainde who is talking about corruption; even the donor community is not very comfortable. The Irish Ambassador was advising Rupiah Banda yesterday Thursday and everybody continues reminding Rupiah Banda about corruption.
“Even the chiefs are coming out in the open to say how they are suffering. They want somebody to liberate them. Mr Rupiah Banda and people like Shikapwasha and Mulongoti should think twice.”
Sata urged Zambians to continue holding the government accountable on the crude oil import.
“We have to continue hitting them because if we don’t hit them we are the people who are going to suffer because we are the people who are going to pay more for the fuel which will be coming from wherever, taking into consideration transportation costs,” said Sata. “Because of his ignorance, unknowingly, Shikapwasha has come to confirm what I was saying about the LITASCO issue.”
On Wednesday, Lt Gen Shikapwasha defended LITASCO, saying it was not a conman company but a reputable one. This was after Sata said the government intends to corruptly award the tender to LITASCO, which is just a “conman company”.
However, Lt Gen Shikapwasha did not state whether or not it was true that the government was trying to use Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) to rubber stamp the selection of LITASCO, which energy minister Kenneth Konga has allegedly negotiated with, as a preferred bidder to supply and delivery of 1.4 million metric tonnes of crude oil.
Well-placed government sources disclosed that the Ministry of Energy submitted before ZPPA a tender document inviting bidders but there were efforts to doctor the same document in an effort to eliminate competition and allow LITASCO to be awarded a contract because the company staff had met President Banda at State House in June where it was assured that it would be given the tender.
But due to public pressure, the Ministry of Energy has postponed the deadline for the tender process in the supply and delivery of crude oil for the 2010-2011 period, following The Post's expose’.
The source said the rescheduling was meant to give the government time to review the tender documents in an effort to address the issues that had been raised so far.
“Even then, we do not feel what the dates they are proposing will be sufficient,” the source said. “The rescheduling of the tender process is a welcome move although we are yet to see if they are going to attend to all the issues that you have exposed. And thanks to The Post otherwise President Banda could have quickly pushed for LITASCO if you did not expose this matter. But just continue on alert because these people, especially State House, are determined to give this tender to LITASCO.”
Ministry of Energy and Water Development permanent secretary Teddy Kasonso on Friday declined to comment on the crude oil importation.
“I don’t work for The Post. Let me work first. I am in a meeting. Call me later,” said Kasonso before cutting the phone line.
Labels: CORRUPTION, LITASCO, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA, SATA, TENDER OFFERS
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Govt postpones tender process for supply, delivery of crude oil
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 04 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
THE Ministry of Energy has postponed the deadline for the tender process in the supply and delivery of crude oil for the 2010-2011 period, following The Post's exposé of the government's manoeuvres to manipulate the process in favour of Russia's LITASCO.
And chief government spokesperson Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha has defended LITASCO, saying it was not a conman company but a reputable one.
In an interview yesterday, Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) director general Samuel Chibuye confirmed the rescheduling of the date for concluding the tender process.
“The ministry has requested for some adjustments because the PS new permanent secretary Teddy Kasonso needs to acquaint himself with the process so that a lot of things which will be done, he will be able to understand them. So there are some adjustments to the pre-bidding meeting and the closing date for the tender as a result of those issues,” Chibuye said.
“The new deadline is… In fact, we are trying to do some adverts, but currently the proposed date from the ministry is 31st December, 2009 and that is also subject to the bidders themselves saying 'is that okay with them or not'. So far that is the new date. Initially the deadline was 18th December, 2009. Now pre-bidding meeting is 18th December.”
However, Chibuye stressed that those dates would have to be agreed upon by all parties including the bidders.
“If they bidders accept that date, then it will be final but again depending on the issues that will be raised because the bidders might say, ‘it is Christmas time, it is holiday time, is it possible to extend?’ Again that has to be discussed with the ministry. Depending on how the ministry feels, how comfortable they are...” said Chibuye.
But when contacted earlier, in connection with the adjustments to the bidding process, Kasonso pleaded ignorance on the process.
“Bidding what?” Kasonso asked.
“I am in Livingstone. There is no confirmation to make. Go back to ZPPA.”
When reminded that Chibuye had referred the query to the Ministry of Energy, Kasonso said: “Anyway, I am in Livingstone, call me when I am in Lusaka tomorrow today.”
Well-placed sources disclosed that the Ministry of Energy had rescheduled the tender process as a result of the exposé in The Post about the government's intentions to unduly award the tender to LITASCO.
The source said the rescheduling was meant to give the government time to review the tender documents in an effort to address the issues that had been raised so far.
“Even then, we do not feel what the dates they are proposing will be sufficient,” the source said. “The rescheduling of the tender process is a welcome move although we are yet to see if they are going to attend to all the issues that you have exposed. And thanks to The Post otherwise President Banda could have quickly pushed for LITASCO if you did not expose this matter. But just continue on alert because these people, especially State House, are determined to give this tender to LITASCO.
“So you guys don't give up. Remember what happened last year? When you raised a lot of dust about Dalbit, the government withdrew just as they have done in this case. But when the dust settled and you guys stopped following up that matter, Dalbit was awarded the contract to supply finished products.”
Oppostion political party leaders that include PF's Michael Sata, UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema, FDD’s Edith Nawakwi and PF spokesperson Given Lubinda have condemned the government’s manoeuvres to manipulate the tender process in favour of LITASCO, which energy minister Kenneth Konga allegedly negotiated with.
But Lt Gen Shikapwasha denounced Sata for calling LITASCO a conman company. He said Sata’s accusation against the government of scheming to get kickbacks from LITASCO must be dismissed with the contempt it derseved.
“The statement is just a mere reflection of Mr Sata’s total ignorance of the oil industry. It shows how uninformed Mr Sata is about the major players in the oil industry. LITASCO, the company Mr Sata made reference to, is a reputable company, contrary to Mr Sata's lie that it is just a conman company.”
Labels: FUEL, LITASCO, OIL, TENDER OFFERS
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COMMENT -
Litasco (LUKoil International Trading and Supply Company) is the exclusive international marketing and trading company of the Russian LUKoil Group.
Reject govt’s manoeuvres to manipulate crude oil tender process, HH urges Zambians
By Chibaula Silwamba
Fri 27 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema yesterday urged Zambians to reject the government's manoeuvres to manipulate the tender process in the supply and delivery of crude oil for the 2010-2011 period in favour of Russia's LITASCO, which energy minister Kenneth Konga allegedly negotiated with.
Commenting on revelations that the
US $1.4 billion two-year contract to supply and deliver
1,440,000 metric tonnes of commingled petroleum feedstock will not be transparent because the government, through Konga, had already selected Lukoil International Trading and Supply Company (LITASCO) as a preferred bidder and that
the ongoing bidding process being done by the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) will just be a rubber stamp procedure, Hichilema warned President Rupiah Banda and his administration against interfering with the crude oil procurement.
He said Zambians would protest against any manoeuvres to manipulate the tender process.
“As Zambians, together, we must say 'no' and not allow one family to enrich itself. If this contract goes on, we must not allow, even if it means going on the streets we will do that,” Hichilema said.
“He President Banda has removed Peter Mumba, permanent secretary of Ministry of Energy so that now he can have a free hand in the procurement of crude oil. He removed David Kapitolo at Tender Board; he removed Max Nkole from Task Force to prepare for massive corruption.”
Hichilema said the MMD government was trying to manipulate the crude oil procurement to get a commission, which they would use for their campaigns ahead of the 2011 tripartite elections.
“Appetite for corruption in the MMD, and more particularly at the presidential level, is amazing. It's so damaging to the economy. There is no need to interfere with the tender process. Zambian people should put their foot down. We must all reject the manoeuvres by the MMD,” Hichilema urged.
“The fuel shortage was the design by Rupiah Banda to cancel all the contracts that late Levy Mwanawasa left so that he can access some commissions along the way. I think this is the time the people of Zambia must say, 'no!' The level of corruption is too high starting from the top. Rupiah Banda tolerates corruption.”
Hichilema said members of opposition political parties and other Zambians should come together to reject the manipulation of tender processes.
“The fuel supply interruption that we experienced in the last two months has been too much. We should not allow Rupiah Banda and his corrupt clique to interfere with the procurement process of crude oil,” said Hichilema.
But a well-placed source in government yesterday revealed that President Banda, using Konga, is determined to award this bid to LITASCO because he started discussions with them around June.
“Just watch this space,” the source said. “This is a done-deal even before bids are submitted. Kenneth Konga has been on the run ensuring that the loose ends are tied. No amount of public outcry will change the President's position on this matter because they have already decided that it is LITASCO. One wonders why ZPPA is even inviting tenders when we all know, at least in government circles, that this contract is going to LITASCO because of State House's involvement. It is a matter of public record that LITASCO participated in the last bid and lost.
“In defending or justifying this rotten deal, they will tell you all sorts of lies because they are determined to give this contract to LITASCO largely for personal benefits although they will tell you they are doing it in national interest.
You guys will keep on exposing scandal after scandal and these people in government will not be scared. Not too long ago, you exposed how State House interfered in the tender process when it pushed for a fuel supply contract for Dalbit. An official from Dalbit was even chauffer-driven in a government Mercedes Benz. That's how arrogant President Banda is on these matters.”
Well-placed government sources told The Post that the government directed the ZPPA to design tender evaluations and specifications that could only be met by LITASCO and that the first cargo delivery was scheduled by January 1, 2010 and yet bids would close on December 18, 2009.
“The other week Hon Konga was in Nigeria and Tanzania on an alleged private visit where he allegedly met officials from this company and it is like they have finalised everything so government wants to bid-rig in favour of LITASCO,” the source disclosed.
“In this process, the ZPPA will be used to rubber stamp and try to legitimise the whole process. Imagine the bids will close on 18th December, 2009 and two weeks later (1st January 2010), a successful bidder will have to supply the first cargo or shipment, meaning that the ZPPA will have no time to evaluate bids that will qualify to the next stage, so it is like everything has been staged-managed.”
Another well-placed government source disclosed that the Ministry of Energy submitted before ZPPA a tender document inviting bidders but there were efforts to doctor the same document in an effort to secure the bid for LITASCO.
“The changes that have been made to the original tender document prepared by the Ministry of Energy and Water Development are: (1) bidders must own or time charter in excess of 30 oil tankers at any given time; (2) the bidder must own or operate a refinery capacity in excess of 1 million barrels per day; (3) bidders must produce crude oil in excess of 1 million barrels per day and (4) bidders must trade in excess of 2 million of crude oil per month,” the source said.
“The above conditions are aimed at eliminating potential competitors who could otherwise supply the requirements for Zambia. All these efforts are aimed at eliminating all competition and are stage-managed to give this contract to LITASCO.”
But ZPPA director general Samuel Chibuye on Monday said making changes to the tender document is a normal procedure. He said ZPPA had received some correspondence from other bidders, without mentioning their names, who complained that the conditions were too difficult, hence ZPPA and the Ministry of Energy and Water Development were looking at those concerns to find a level playing field.
“The changes are not final,” Chibuye said. “We have also received some correspondence from other bidders who are basically saying that we need to revise some of the conditions because they are too onerous and that is a normal procedure. Bidders are free to complain and make changes. On the basis of those letters we received from bidders, we do normally liaise with the ministry so that we can make certain changes.”
Labels: CORRUPTION, FUEL, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, KENNETH KONGA, LITASCO, PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS, SAMUEL CHIBUYE, TENDER OFFERS
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RDA re-advertises tenders for Kitwe township roads
Written by Katwishi Bwalya in Chongwe
Friday, July 03, 2009 3:15:30 PM
THE Road Development Agency (RDA) has re-advertised tenders for the construction of township roads on the Copperbelt following excessive pricing in the tender bids submitted earlier by various contractors. RDA head of Public Relations Loyce Saili said it was unacceptable for contractors to bid as high as K6 billion for a kilometer of the roads.
In an interview after a conducted tour of the Great East and the Kafue-Mazabuka roads on Wednesday, Saili said this prompted the RDA to re-advertise the tenders so that the contractors could come up with reasonable prices.
“We decided to re-advertise the bids after we received unrealistic bids and they were charging as high as K6 billion [per kilometer] and that is why we decided to re-advertise because that was too much,” Saili said. “We expected the bids to be realistic though we know that they [contractors] need to make a profit also but what is important is that they should charge what we are able to pay so that we get value for our money.”
Saili said the cost of building roads had gone up in the country because there were a few players on the market who were competing against each other.
And the RDA is this year expected to construct weigh bridges in five districts at a cost of K12 billion to reduce on overloading.
Saili said the weigh bridges would be constructed in Livingstone, Kafue, Kazungula, Mpika and Solwezi.
She further said the country had seen a reduction in overloading due to the implementation of the Axle Load Programme.
“We have what we are calling as an Axle Load Programme which we are using to reduce on over loading on our roads because that is the major cause of damage to our roads in the country and we are also enforcing the legislation on over loading and anyone who evades a weigh bridge, they pay a fine of US $200,” said Saili.
Labels: RDA, ROADS, TENDER OFFERS
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Tender Talk
By Zambia National Tender Board and The Post Newspaper
Tuesday May 13, 2008 [04:00]
When two organisations or individuals form a partnership or a joint venture, the outcome is that both partners benefit mutually in one way or the other. A partnership should improve and enhance both parties’ interests for the common good. The resultant synergy should add value to both organisations.
The Zambia National Tender Board (ZNTB) has embarked on a stakeholder sensitisation exercise aimed at strengthening its relations with clients, stakeholders and the general public. Yes, ZNTB believes that every organisation exists for and is reliant on the satisfaction of its clients and stakeholders.
It is with this view that the Zambia National Tender Board has made deliberate efforts towards developing and sustaining mutual relations with targeted groups of people. ZNTB believes that an enlightened society will add value to its operations and ultimately, to the quality of its service delivery.
To maintain such relations with clients, stakeholders and the general public, ZNTB has outlined a calculated communication and sensitisation programme aimed at increasing levels of awareness and understanding of the public procurement system in Zambia.
The media in whatever form, print or electronic, is a major stakeholder in information dissemination. It is imperative therefore, that deliberate efforts are made to work with and through the media to get specific information known to targeted groups of people.
The ZNTB is aware that as a public institution tasked to regulate and control public procurement, it has a duty and obligation to inform and educate clients about the vital role that public procurement plays in national development.
The growing interest by most, if not all, Zambians to keep track with what is happening in the public sector can no longer be overlooked.
The concern by the public to know how their financial resources are utilized and how the consequent provision of goods and services is undertaken has made it imperative for organisation such as ZNTB to begin to value their relations with clients more and make conscious steps to inform and educate them about their plans and activities.
And as a way of addressing this issue the ZNTB in collaboration with The Post newspaper have decided to start a stakeholder sensitisation column entitled ‘tender talk’. This column will discuss topical issues in public procurement and will explore in greater detail issues about tender procedures, tender regulations and procurement guidelines, the ZNTB Act and the current procurement reforms, to name but a few.
As ZNTB we give gratitude to The Post newspaper for giving us an opportunity to use this paper to push our cause forward.
It is true that society has its own perceptions of the public procurement system in Zambia. The perceptions can be factual or incorrect depending on how knowledgeable clients and stakeholders are. This column will help mold those perceptions.
As a public institution, we dedicate our efforts to our clients, stakeholders and the general public. We hope that this column will begin to address issues in public procurement and will help us clarify queries that may arise. Please look out for our weekly column every Tuesday and learn more about ZNTB and the public procurement system in Zambia.
Labels: JOINT VENTURES, PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS, TENDER OFFERS, THE POST, ZNTB
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