THE Auditor General’s Report has disclosed that Zambia Air Force (ZAF) procured airmen jerseys totalling £7,735.76 that had not been delivered, while the advance payments had not been recovered.

According to the Report of the Auditor General on the Accounts of the Republic for the financial year ended 31st December 31, 2019, ZAF procured airmen jerseys totalling £7,735.76, which had not been delivered.

There was also no approval by the Attorney General for the contracts entered into with the supplier.

“On 27th July, 2019, Zambia Air Force awarded two contracts to L.W. Vass Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of the United Kingdom to supply and deliver 1,900 Airmen Jerseys comprising Round-neck 950 and V-neck 950 at total contract sums of £58,900 (K973,028) with a delivery period of eight to twelve weeks upon award and signing of the contracts. The contracts provided for, among other terms, an advance payment of 25 per cent upon signing the contract secured against a valid bank guarantee equivalent to the advance payment and the balance of 75 per cent to be paid within 30 working days after the supply and delivery of the goods. In this regard, the supplier was paid total advance payments of £7,735.76 (K136,266.29) on 11th February and 4th March, 2020,” read the Report.

“The following were observed: Public Procurement Act Clause 4 (1) (2) stipulates that a procuring entity should, before entering into any international agreement relating to procurement, obtain the approval of the authority, and the advice of the Attorney General and that any agreement purportedly entered into without the approval of the Attorney General is void. Contrary to the Act, there was no approval by the Attorney General for the contracts entered into with the supplier. Clause 18.1 requires the supplier within 14 days of the notification of contract award to provide advance payments guarantee in the equivalent amount of the advance payment prior to receipt of any payment. Contrary to the clause, no bank guarantee was provided against the advance payment of £5,221.93 (round neck) and £2,513.83 (V-neck) paid. As at 31st August, 2020, the goods had not been delivered, while the advance payments had not been recovered,”

The Report revealed that the Air Force received K6,057,188 to construct a new ground training school out of which K2,236,534 was spent, but the project was at 40 per cent completion four months after the expected completion date.

“On 22nd August, 2018, Zambia Air Force received an amount of K6,057,188 from the Ministry of Transport and Communications through the Ministry of Defence to construct a New Ground Training School (GTS) using force accounting following the commercialisation of the Samora Machel Airport. Out of the K6,057,188 funded, the Air Force remitted amounts totalling K2,432,837 to Samora Machel base. As at 31st August, 2020, amounts totalling K2,236,534 had been spent. The scope of works included: substructure; reinforcement; block and brick works; structural steel and carpentry; aluminium and metal works; plumbing; engineering and electrical installations; floor; wall and ceiling finishes; glazing; painting and decorating; parade square (concrete); walk-ways; car park and swimming pool. The works were to take 18 months from 19th November, 2018 to 30th April, 2020,” stated the Report.

“An inspection of the school carried out in August, 2020, revealed that the project was at 40 per cent completion four months after the expected completion date and the following works were outstanding: carpentry, aluminium and metal works plumbing, engineering and electrical installation. Floor, wall and ceiling finishes, glazing, painting and decorating, parade square (concrete), walk-ways, car park, and swimming pool.”

ZAF had also not secured title deeds for four properties as at August 31, 2020, according to the Report.