STATEMENT BY APNAC ON MINISTERS GIVING GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS TO PERSONAL FRIENDS
Thursday 5th October, 2023
The African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Zambia Chapter is concerned with reports that government has awarded a tender to “close friend” of a named minister.
We raise this concern in view of the media reports that the Ministry of Energy chaired by the permanent secretary Himba cheelo awarded a tender to a Mr Sashi Patel who is “a close” associate to the Minister of Energy, Hon Kapala allegedly without the approval of the board.
Agro fuels was awarded a multi million dollar tender for the provision of petroleum products recently.
As APNAC, we call upon the Ant-Corruotion Commission (ACC) to take keen interest in such cases immediately and not to only investigate people when they’re out of power.
The fight against corruption has to be holistically fought if we have to make headways as a nation.
Both past and present signs of corruption have to be fought and stopped now in order to deter others from doing the same thing.
Government tender processes have to be very transparent and public officers or politicians should not be seen to have interfered in the processes.
Public officers and politicians should always declare interest on such matters in order to avoid allegations of abuse of power by those concerned or unfair awarding of tenders to those they’re aligned to.
It is saddening to read that the Tanzania Zambia (TAZAMA) tender was awarded to a close friend of Hon minister Kapala without the board’s approval.
No one has given reasons as to why the board did not approve the said tender.
That in itself is a red flag of corruption and gives us great concern as it undermines the efforts to fight corruption.
As APNAC, we are going to get to the bottom of this matter for us to know exactly what happened.
Our role is not only to complain when such things happen but to do more and provide possible solutions and push for legislation that will hopefully help in the strengthening of laws against such breach in awarding of tenders. As APNAC we shall continue to bring to light any cases or practices that border on corruption.
Issued by
Hon Miles B Sampa
APNAC chairman