Cash-strapped BWB withdraws tenders

Blantyre Water Board (BWB) has withdrawn 11 tenders worth K4 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, citing budget constraints—months after the previous government quietly rescued it from a K24 billion electricity debt.

The withdrawn procurements include galvanised iron pipes and fittings, office stationery, pipeline excavation and civil works, generator maintenance, motor rewinding, vehicle and equipment maintenance, security services and medical supplies, according to the board’s spokesperson Evelyn Khonje.

She said on Wednesday that the tenders were advertised on a draft procurement plan that was still awaiting the board’s nod to align with the approved budget.

“The procurement plan was still undergoing the approval process to align it to the approved budget at the time the tenders were advertised,” she said.

Khonje said the tenders will be re-advertised once funding is confirmed and that urgent needs are being met through requests for quotations.

“The withdrawal relates primarily to timing and alignment with the approved budget, rather than a cessation of operations,” she said.

In March, BWB cancelled 20 other prospective contracts, also citing budget constraints.

Centre for Social Transparency and Accountability executive director Willy Kambwandira said repeated tender withdrawals warrant scrutiny.

“Advertising 11 tenders worth about K4 billion before the procurement plan and funding were approved, after cancelling 20 prospective contracts in March, cannot be brushed aside as mere administrative miscalculations,” he said.

Consumers Association of Malawi executive director John Kapito called for transparency.

The latest withdrawal comes against a fragile financial recovery for the board. Our sister publication Weekend Nation last Saturday reported that BWB financial statements for the year ended March 31 2025 showed that the board’s losses narrowed to K10.2 billion from K33.6 billion in FY2024.

The report showed the improvement was driven by the previous governments bailout package: K24 billion Escom arrears settled, K19.2 billion government debt converted to equity and a special energy tariff that cut power costs by K5.8 billion under the Lazarus Chakwera administration.

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