The Rust of Words ( a Novel )

By David Aoloch Bion

Chapter Six

In the second phase of  developmental  programs , aim at delivering services to the citizens, the Chief  launches a “food security project”. In the scheme, the Republic  had to provide food security by supplying, stocking the stores in the ten provinces across the country with basic food items like maize, rice, sorghum, sugar, salt, cooking oil, etc. The citizen would have to buy these goods at the subsidize price. The council of Servants approved the budget for it.

The Finance put the advertisement in the newspapers for the eligible companies to apply , to supply the needed  items.  Hundreds  of companies applied  for the contracts. The contracts were awarded to about six hundred different companies.

At gate of Finance compound, on bidding day , one man, a relative of director of procurement who was awarded the contract worth 3 million dollars approached another man who failed to get the contract.

“Good afternoon?” greeted the relative

“Good afternoon”

“Are you successful?”

“No, I am not”

“I am the managing director of Napata Holding Company, I have the contract however, I want to sell it”

“How are you selling? And how do I benefit if I buy?’’ asked unsuccessful man

“You don’t know how you will benefit from it, are you not doing business here in city ?”

“Yes I do , but I have not  come across what you are talking about”

“Alright, if you don’t know, let’s leave it there” the relative said and he walked way . The man followed him, calling  him to stop. The manager stopped.

“Please Sir , could explain it to me the way I will benefit because I don’t know. I am new here. I came from Meroe two months ago, I failed to get contract”

“This contract is worth 3 million dollars, you will buy the contract document from me at the price of 300,000 dollars. You will go supply and  items with  the papers and the government will pay you 3 million dollars”

“I see, why don’t  you supply the items yourself?”

“I have many other things which I am doing”

“If you have other things to do why did  you apply?”

“Why are you asking me like?”

“I can ask you because  most of the companies that won contracts  are briefcase. and do not pay taxes   They exist only in name, they don’t have money or physical offices, but because of the blood relationship, tribalism , nepotism, favoritism, they get contracts”

“I am not among those” said and he left. The man held with him by his shirt.

“Please, leave me”

“I will take you back to office, you will go explain why you apply for the contract, you are not ready to finish”

The man refused, they scuffled  the ,  fight broke out. The men punched themselves badly. The police guarding the Department came,  arrested them, took them to police station. The case was investigated. The director for procurement who gave the contract was arrested too. in the police custody , he was interrogated

“Director of procurement, why did you give the contract to someone who is not ready to finish the contract” the police officer asked.

“He applied, he has legal documents, he gave his bank statement, I can’t refuse to give the contract. I thought, he was ready to supply . am not God to know someone background ”

” They said , he is your relative”

”who say that ?”

“Director, businessmen and women are complaining that you don’t give them contracts, you give it to companies that are linked to some  officials”

“Anyway , there is small insect of truth on that , as I was opening bids yesterday,  five Servants  called me. Saying I should not leave; so and  so companies  from getting the contracts. Therefore ,  I gave the contracts to those companies  mentioned .  I  compile with their request  in order to secure my job”

“You are working only to secure your job . you are serving the  national interest , don’t  you have patriotic passion  are you/?”

“Who have the patriotic passion in this country? The Servants are grazing the  meadow of resources  like cow graze the  grass in civil services . The Generals are shaving the  pasture of wealth  like razor blade shave the hair in   organized forces. Who is working for the Republic ? who is working for the the people?, no one unless the unborn may come and do that?”

“How do you know that?””

“ Here to be a politicians , you must  be a general , and to  be a business , you must a politician , You go to market, the Servant  has 50 shops, if you go to residential areas, the same Servant  has 30 plots. The generals have number of plots and shops too. If you look at the big companies these are for Servants , Generals and their associates.  a Servant owns a bank, a General own  petrol station. A Servant owns mobile network provider company, General owns  Forex Bureau  for Exchange , and list is so long ”

After one week, the Servant wrote a letter to police for their  release  .  The director and the two businessmen were released without a charge .. This was one story but three hundred companies sold  their  contract in secret.

After one and a half months, those  companies that supplied the food items began to submit the completing documents of the contracts to office of James Majok, . One company that delivered sorghum to Majok’s home  province   came with the way bills that he had delivered the sorghum. On the same day , someone came from  the same  province  . He entered  the office. . Majok greeted him .

“How is it   in the Province  ? how are the things ?” Majok asked

“We are fine, only people are starving ,  suffering from hunger?’’

“How are you suffering from hunger when they are supplying food like sorghum, salt, sugar that you will buy  on the subsidize, cheap prices?”

“Where are those items?”

“They are there in the Province in stores or warehouse ”

“Who took then there ?”

‘’ They are taken by the Republic ‘’

“It could be another Province  , not the one   I am coming , there is  no single food items in the market”

They were talking when the director of the company that took food items to province   was in  the office.  James Majok turned to him .

“You said, you deliver the food items and people in Province  are dying of hunger, why?”

“I didn’t deliver the food to the people directly; I gave the food to the authority . It is the responsibility of Republic  which will give it to them” answered he .

“Absolutely, you are right”

James Majok walked out of his office, he called  his relative , who is the secretary to the Chairman of the Province .

“Good afternoon?”

“Good afternoon”

“Who is this?”

“This is James Majok , the Controller in Finance ”

“How are you?”

“I am fine”

“I would like to inquire something from you! Have those companies which were contracted to supply food to Province  finish the contract by supplying the food?”

“Well , it is yes and no question because it is official said that the companies have supplied items  . The Chairman signed the document confirming the delivery  of the items but I didn’t see the items in the store ”

‘’That is what I know because many companies are coming claiming they delivered goods and people are still suffering from hunger”

“let me tell you a secret , the Chairman has  a share in many  of those  companies . all those companies which were given contract  are either  own by  Servant or by the Chairman , or by their daughters’, or their friends’. All of 35 companies which were supposed to supply goods to Province , they never bring any items but their documents were signed , confirming that the items are received here”

“Mind you, don’t quote me on anything or you should keep that as a secret between me and you because it may endanger my relationship with the Chairman  ”

“I know, don’t worry”

James Majok strode  to the Servant ’s office.

“Honourable, the companies which supplied food to White Nile State did not deliver the food items ”.

“Why ?”

”, these companies came claiming their money but people in Province  are saying, they have not took  the food .Some people called me, they said there is sorghum in stores. People are suffering”

“We, the Republic , we  don’t deal with people in the Province , we deal with authority ; on the document, are  there no Chairman signature  signing,  confirming that the items are received?”

“Yes, it is there”

“Then, what do you want next? If the Chairman  has signed, something which is not delivered. What is your problem? It is their problem that  they cheat their own people ‘’

“My problem is why should we pay money  for something or services  which  is not provided ”

“Are you paying from your own pocket or from  public money?”

“Public money,but  we are the managers of the Republic ,  we are morally responsibility for protecting the national wealth, it should not  be wasted or stolen”.

“Go and write the cheque for  the money of that  company” the Servant ordered.

Majok left the office .

“Someone claim to be Servant  and does not know the roles of the Servant ” James Majok said inwardly. He wrote cheque for  the company.

On the following day,the Dirctor  of another company came, who delivered good to Orange state with document with  worthy 30 million dollars.

“Sir, your contract is worth 30 million dollars , we shall pay you  in installment” Majok said.

“Why do you pay me in installments?”

“This money is too big ;we can’t afford to pay it at once”

“I want my money all. I don’t want installment”

“Please , we  can’t afford 30 millions to pay to one person like you once ”

”I have delivered your things, legally, I have completed my contract. You must pay me”

“I will pay you 10 millions, this month, 10 millions the other month, until it finishes”

“Do you know whom am I? If you are not paying my money, I will call  Chief ”

“Call him, what is he going to do for me?”

“He will remove you from this office; you are not the last authority in this country”

“Even if, the Chief removes me, the other person he will put in my place will tell you the same thing that you must be paid installment”

The manager of the company walked out of the office. Within  five minutes , the Servant  called Majok.

“What is your problem with Director  of this company ?” the Servant asked

“’ I have no any issues with him , the  refuse to be paid in  installment ‘’

“Now  write his 30 million dollars cheque ”

After one month, the situations in the states deteriorated people were starving of hunger. The report reached the office of Chief Servant . He called the council of Servant s to discuss the situation in the Provinces ..

“Why are people starving in the Provinces , we have approved the budget for the food security six months ago?” asked the Chief ..

There was no correct answer from the Servants . At the end of the meeting ,the committee was formed to go to Provinces  to find out .  The committee went, found all stores were empty. All companies didn’t deliver the food. Some of the companies gave rotten maize. In the food security project, the Republic  lost billion dollars. The committee was formed to investigate this food scandal .

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