The Public Expenditure Observatory (ODEP) and the Congolese League for the Fight against Corruption (Licoco) recently sent a letter to the Minister of Finance, Nicolas Kazadi, to denounce the practices of pre-qualification of the companies responsible for producing the plates registration of vehicles in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to these two civil society organizations, this process is tainted with anti-values such as patronage, influence peddling and corruption.
Among the examples cited by ODEP and Licoco, we find the case of the company MULHBAUEUR, already involved in corrupt practices in Uganda according to a United Nations report. The two organizations wonder how a company that has been found guilty of corruption can be selected to provide a quality service in the DRC.
Another example mentioned is that of the Serkas Group, whose company does not have the required experience in the production of license plates. According to ODEP and Licoco, the group was pre-qualified thanks to patronage practices or its proximity to the head of state’s family.
Faced with these findings, ODEP and Licoco are asking the Minister of Finance to disqualify the companies concerned and to retain only those respecting anti-corruption principles. In addition, they want to be involved in the opening and analysis of offers in order to prevent any abuse.
This situation raises serious questions about the transparency and integrity of procurement processes in the DRC. It is essential to ensure that companies selected for public contracts respect ethical standards in order to ensure quality services and prevent any form of corruption.
In conclusion, it is essential that the competent authorities take into account the concerns expressed by ODEP and Licoco in order to guarantee a transparent, honest and fair pre-qualification process in the field of license plate production in the DRC.