Following a call by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has stopped the  procurement contract for ambulances at the Ministry of Health (MoH), advertised in local newspapers on February 3 and closed on March 17 this year.

Last week, the HRDC raised eyebrows on why the above was awarded to Grandview International of Lusaka, Zambia, which cost more than local suppliers. While the Zambia based firm charged the vehicles at $63,000 each, Toyota Malawi charged $47,800 for each Toyota Land Cruiser (translating into about K1.2 billion), Nissan Malawi charged $56,224.61 for each Nissan Patrol (about K1.5 billion) and Mike Appel & Gatto charged $61,384 (about K1.6 billion) per Land Cruiser.

Meanwhile, HRDC Chairperson Gift Trapence commended ACB for swiftly halting the procurement but urged the bureau to speed up the investigation process.