By Isaac Zulu
Agriculture permanent secretary Green Mbozi has described Harry Kalaba’s claim that government has single-sourced the procurement of substandard fertilizer at a cost of $54 million as nkhani ya mumoba.
When he featured on Kapiri Mposhi’s KBC Radio special programme, Democratic Party leader Kalaba charged that the UPND government has single sourced the procurement of substandard fertiliser at a cost of US$54 million.
But when called to respond to the said allegations, Mbozi said the UPND government has not awarded a contract to any contractor for the supply of farming inputs for the coming farming season.
“That is what they say ninkhani ya mumoba. And you want to bring that to government? I have been in this Ministry (of Agriculture) since last November, and I can tell you that we have not contracted anybody to supply fertiliser to the government for the coming farming season. We can come here so that you can talk to the minister and myself, together with the procurement unit. You will realise that we have not even finalised the (tendering) process,” explained.
Mbozi challenged Harry Kalaba to produce documentation to prove that the UPND government has, indeed, procured substandard fertiliser, as alleged.
“You get back to the person that was quoted, Mr Harry Kalaba, and ask him to produce documentation, indicating the amount as being US$54 million and the quality of the fertiliser that he is claiming has been procured substandard fertiliser. Ask him to provide evidence,” Mbozi stressed.
