ACB halts Admarc’s K2.97bn tarpaulin deal

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has stopped the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) from proceeding with a proposed K2.97 billion contract for the supply of 100 tarpaulins to Maiden Investment, pending an audit of the procurement process.

In a restriction notice dated October 9 2026, ACB acting director general Gabriel Chembezi directed Admarc not to proceed with the procurement or award of the contract to Maiden Investment or any other company without the Bureau’s written consent.

The procurement is registered under reference number Admarc/NCB/TP/2026/2027/02.

In an interview yesterday, ACB spokesperson Jacqueline Ngongonda confirmed that the Bureau had halted the process following complaints on social media about the proposed contract sum and suspected irregularities in the award.

“Following complaints on social media regarding the intended contract sum and suspected irregularities in the contract award, the acting director general has halted the procurement process to conduct a procurement audit in accordance with our general mandate to prevent corrupt practices under the Corrupt Practices Act,” Ngongonda said.

Ngongonda: The acting director general

has halted the procurement process

The restriction notice was issued under Section 23(1) of the Corrupt Practices Act and specifically directs Admarc’s chief executive officer not to undertake any transaction relating to the procurement without the ACB’s written consent.

Before the intervention, Admarc had notified bidders and the public that it had completed the evaluation process and intended to award the contract to Maiden Investment.

The corporation put the proposed contract value at K2 966 980 045 for 100 tarpaulins, translating to approximately K29.67 million per tarpaulin.

Admarc invited bids for the supply and delivery of the tarpaulins through national competitive bidding on August 10 2026, with submissions closing on August 31.

The tender documents stipulated that delivery would be completed within four weeks of signing the contract.

Admarc uses tarpaulins in its warehousing and commodity-handling operations. The corporation says it operates warehouses across the country with a combined storage capacity of 400 000 metric tonnes.

Admarc had not commented on the restriction notice by press time yesterday.

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