23 December 2011
Security wings have started investigating how the Caleb Fundanga-led Bank of Zambia (BoZ) offered the Euro16.8 million (K106 billion) contract to Giesecke and Devrient (G and D) of Germany to print the Zambian bank notes without following laid down tender procedures.
Inspector-General of Police, Martin Malama, said security officers have started collecting valuable leads to consolidate evidence before any arrests could be effected.
Mr Malama said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the Euro 16, 779, 411.00 contract to the Germany company was among many cases that the police and other investigative wings were pursuing in the ongoing corruption investigations which occurred during the previous regime.
“This is one of the many matters that the Zambia Police and other security wings are investigating. As you may be aware there are a number of corruption cases that the investigative wings are investigating,” he said.
He said the officers would soon start questioning the people suspected to have been involved in impropriety.
Finance and National Planning Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, on December 9 told Parliament that the Central Bank awarded a German
company G and D, the Euro 16, 779,411.00 contract to print both paper and polymer bank notes, using a limited bidding method.
Initially, a French company, Thomas De La Rue, was printing the Zambian Kwacha but the MMD Government allegedly engaged G and D without involving the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA).
In a ministerial statement in Parliament, Mr Chikwanda explained that the Central Bank should have conformed to the public procurement procedures in awarding of the contract.
“Despite the mandate of the Bank of Zambia to issue currency, the Bank is expected to conform to the public procurement procedures in accordance with the Public Procurement Act No. 12 of 2008.
“This is not only a recipe for impropriety but also raises legitimate questions by the public who are at the end of the day the repository of our authority at all levels of Government,” the minister told Parliament.
The police chief said once the investigations are concluded in most of the cases, including the Central Bank cash case, those found wanting would have to face the wrath of the law.
Mr Malama said the investigative wings were focused and would soon zero in on the suspects.
“When we have enough evidence over these cases we shall then proceed to court so that justice is done. Corruption is a cancer that has robbed our nation of the most valued resources and therefore it must be fought,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General has called upon Zambians to consider the plight of the under privileged as the nation commemorates Christmas.
“Let us think about the weak in society, those who do not know where the next meal will come from,” he said.
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