By Kini Nsom & Daniel Gwarbarah
The MP for the Nyong and So'o constituency in the Centre Region, Hon. Regine Tsoungui, has raised an alarm on what she says is a high level corruption network that has virtually marred the award and the execution of contracts in the area.
She raised the alarm after evaluating the execution of the 2008 Public Investment Budget in that constituency last week.Speaking to the press in Yaounde, the MP condemned local administrative officials for embroiling the award of contracts in corruption. She said local contractors have been completely put off the matter because they refused to play the ball of kick-backs. Hon Tsoungui said the situation was very pathetic because even the Divisional Tenders Board was fully mired in corrupt practices.
Going by the MP, the bridge in the Mengeme-Ngomedzap road that was only graded in the name of construction is at the verge of collapse. She said because the huge sums of money allocated for the contract were embezzled, the bridge has a life span of less than one month. She wondered how they will go back to the Minister of Public Works to ask for funds for the construction of the same bridge to which so much money has already been paid out.
The Mbalmayo prison project, the MP noted, was evaluated at FCFA 63 million but what was finally delivered as work done has no relationship with the amount of money because of its poor quality.
According to the MP, huge sums of money allocated for the construction of a fence round the Mbalmayo Finance office, were equally embezzled. She said the project was evaluated at some FCFA 30 million, but the contractor did a scandalously shoddy job that can, at most, be evaluated only at FCFA 3 million.
She said even though the contractor is yet to finish the work, the President of the Nyong and So'o Divisional Tenders Board has signed it somewhere indicating that the contract has been fully executed.
In the same vein, she charged that the Mbalmayo council office has already been constructed on paper, whereas work is not even half way gone. She also cited the Ngomedzap forestry post whose construction has already been completed on paper whereas work is still going on.
The MP said the authorities have to act fast to dismantle the network of corrupt officials in her constituency who are lining their pockets with huge sums of the investment budget at the expense of development. To her, the problem is so acute in this area because even those who are supposed to ensure checks and balances in the award and execution of contracts are fully involved in corruption.
The MP warned that her constituency is not a dumping ground for unpatriotic and corrupt administrators. Hear her: "we need dynamic people who will fully contribute to the development of our Division. Enough is enough; we will not allow corruption to pass through Nyong and So'o."
When asked what efforts she was making to remedy the situation, the MP said she will inform the hierarchy at the National Assembly for a technical report to be established for those concerned to take their responsibility. She alleged that some forty contracts were awarded and executed in a very opaque manner.
More than half of these contracts, she added, were simply shared out to friends and relatives without the opinion of the contract awards board.Reacting to the allegations, authorities of the National Contracts Board say they will send a team to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, sources from Mbalmayo told The Post that the MP was so bitter against the administrative officials because they worked against her election during the 1997 twin election. When contacted by phone on January 27, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Nyong and So'o refuted allegations of corruption. He said all what the MP said was false and shows that she does not master the procedure for the award of contracts.
Cameroon = corruption... corruption... corruption!
Posted by: Dr A A Agbormbai | Friday, 06 February 2009 at 07:55 AM
Dr A.A agbormbai!
Is that you talking? I thought you have always agued for CPDM and its elite thieves. How come Cameroon=Corruption.
But lickers always end up realising that its only shit one can lick on the butts
LONG LIVE CPDM....LONG LIVE CORRUPTION!!!!
Posted by: NTEB | Friday, 06 February 2009 at 10:32 AM
These thieves can even improve their own arears, after 27 years they are still in the jungle at the stone age. Wonderfull!!!!!
Posted by: tombele | Friday, 06 February 2009 at 05:22 PM
"Uncover"?
How can something be "uncovered" when it is so obvious?
I praise Hon Regine Tsoungui for her courage.
In a real country where people are truly held accountable for their actions, heads will be rolling upon such revelations.
We are in Cameroon. Don't be surprised that Hon Tsoungui gets kicked out the scene instead.
Posted by: Michaux | Saturday, 07 February 2009 at 04:03 AM