CSOs demand ‘spy machine’ cost investigation
Some civil society organisations (CSOs) want the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate circumstances surrounding the purchase of the Consolidated ICT Regulatory Management System (Cirms), widely known as the ‘spy machine’, after expressing reservations about its price.
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) bought the machine from Agilis International Inc in 2010 at $6 142 608 (about K2.8 billion) to improve regulatory monitoring functions in four key areas of quality of service, revenue assurance, fraud management and spectrum allocation and management.
However, the machine could not be used since its purchase as Macra faced resistance, including court battles with operators and some concerned citizens.
In the wake of a court ruling in its favour, Macra re-engaged the supplier, Agilis International Inc, who recommended the upgrading of the Cirms’ hardware and software due to technical advancement.
The supplier revised the contractual price from $6 142 608 to $13 871 969 (about K6.2 billion), meaning that Macra would have to pay an extra $7 729 361 (about K3.4 billion), according to a report.
But in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by Centre for the Development of the People (Cedep) executive director Gift Trapence, and his counterparts at Malawi Network of Religious Leaders Living with or personally affected by HIV and Aids (Manerela+), Macdonald Sembereka and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, Timothy Mtambo, said the NGOs feel numerous allegations about bribery need thorough investigations.
“There are some allegations from some quarters that some members of the government and staff have been bribed to fast-track the upgrading of Cirms. To that end, we call upon the ACB to investigate the matter and also the ODPP [Office of the Director of Public Procurement] to double check the issue of value for money,” reads the statement.
“The money meant for such exercise would be best utilised for more urgent and pressing matters like the purchase of drugs in our public hospitals,” said the statement in part.
During a board meeting that took place last week in Lilongwe, board members also expressed dissatisfaction with the price.n
