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The Country’s graft busting body, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has halted a K48 billion contract that was awarded to Mota Engil to upgrade the Marka- Bangula railway line over allegations of corrupt dealings in awarding of the contract.
In a press statement signed by ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala, the bureau has directed the Ministry of Transport and Public Works to re-evaluate the last three bidders within 15 working days.
Ndala said the bureau has directed the Ministry of Transport and Public Works to re-evaluate the last three bidders within 15 working days.
Meanwhile, the accountability watchdog Centre for Social Accountability and Transparency has welcomed the development and called for transparency in the process.
The Marka-Bangula railway section has four stations, which are considered for rehabilitation, the four include Mark Station, Nsanje Station, Tengani Station, and Bangula Station.
the contract however was awarded to the Portuguese Contractor Mota Engil at the initial sum of USD70,035,427.94.
the rehabilitation works commenced in March 2018 and the initial period of performance was for 14 Months, which implied that the project should have been completed in May.
In September this year, the ACB stopped the Ministry of Transport and Public Works from awarding the contract for the upgrading of the same project over corruption allegations.
The whole was put to halt after the ministry published a notification for intention to award Mota-Engil a K48billion contract for the construction of the 72Kilometre railway line.
Mota-Engil emerged as the successful Bidder with the lowest price (K48, 244, 861, 524.98) against two others, China Railway (K59 906 673 465.11) and China Civil Engineering (K79 766 540 032.76)
