Dr Malama’s 50 ambulances procurement trial continues

A WITNESS has told the Lusaka magistrate court that officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) approached him with an internal memorandum indicating a request to initiate the procurement of 50 ambulances.

Mr. Gilbert Mbewe, Contracts and Procurement Manager at Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) yesterday told Chief Resident Magistrate Davies Chibwili that on March 5, 2018, ACC officers enquired from him the procedures on the initiation of procurement proceedings, procedures on termination of contracts and procedures for evaluation of bids leading to the awarding of contracts.

He said the ACC was enquiring if the procedure of procurement of 50 ambulances was followed.

Mr. Mbewe was testifying in a matter in which, former Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Kennedy Malama is charged with former Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Administration Kakulubelwa Mulalelo and six others.

Other accused persons include: Dr. Gardener Syakantu, Dr. Muzaza Nthele, 48, of house number 2801 Meanwood Ndeke, Rebecca Ndhlovu, 60, a retiree and farmer of Zambia Airways area, Dr. Maximillian Bweupe, 51, Wilson Lungu, 37, a chief procurement officer under the Ministry of Mines and Dr. Jabbin Mulwanda.

The matter is in relation to the procurement, supply and delivery of 50 ambulances.

The accused persons are facing four counts of willful failure to comply with applicable law contrary to section 34 (2) (b) of the Anti-corruption Act No. 3 of 2012, the charges they denied.

Mr. Mbewe testified that when he was shown the memo, he observed that the request to initiate the procurement of ambulances was not in format set out in regulation 30 of the public procurement regulation schedule.

Trial continues.