…We have been in this business for over 20years
AWS Trucking, a company belonging to late Sidik Mia’s brother, which has won MK836 million tender to supply goats to the Department of Disaster Management Affair (DoDMA), says the company is apolitical.
The Company’s managing director, Mr Khalid Mia told Malawi Voice on Thursday amidst rumors on the social media indicating that DoDMA awarded the multi-million kwacha tender to AWS due to its connection to late Sidik Mia, who was Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Vice President.
The managing director said: “We are fully into business and we are not in any way connected to politics.
“AWS followed all the tender requirements to win this contract of supplying goats to DoDMA starting from normal process of submitting applications after we saw an advert in the newspapers.”
“People win tenders worth billions to supply different things, so what’s the problem with us? Just because my brother was a politician? Asked Mia.
Mia, further appealed to Malawians to stop associating his business and proprieties with anything pertaining to politics.
“My brother was a politician and myself a businessman, therefore people should learn to treat us as such. I have been doing this business for quite number of years and l have been winning tenders in a fair manner just like this tender,” said Mia.
He said AWS Trucking, with its sister company Flatlands has been supplying goats and cattle in thousands consistently for more than 20 years for Kurban (Muslim Festival) and to a chain of butcheries and supermarkets. Their clients include Islamic Relief Malawi, National Zakat Fund of South Africa and private Muslims Groups from Malawi, South Africa, UK and Saudi Arabia.
“AWS Trucking has established farms including one at Chapananga with holding facilities for thousands of goats. We operate refrigerated trucks and live animal transportation trucks and trailers suitable for goats, cattle and frozen fish,” he said.
Asked to clarify on the name, Mia said the name AWS Trucking may sound like a trucking only company, but in their 21 years of operation they have used the same name and Flatlands for livestock, salt, fish, tyres and general trading.
“Don’t judge a company by its name.” he said.
On price, Mia said the first price was not based on buying alone but included the Bidding Expenses, Bid Security, Bank Reconciliation, Performance Security, establishing and operating goat buying stations.
“That is not all. It also include collecting goats from buying stations, holding goats at farm, veterinary services, delivering to EPAs and Report and Invoice,” he said adding that AWS Trucking, was registered on April,3 2000.
Apart from AWS, The Department of Disaster Management Affair (DoDMA) has also awarded contracts to ASIP and A-Investments.
Allow me to say something because I know these Mia’s and Issas from Chikwawa from buying beef and goats from them for my butchery.
This contract is for supply and delivery. These people have years of experience farming, supplying and transporting live animals and butchered meat.
They qualify for this contract.
Was there any wrong-doing involved in the awarding of the tender? If so, then the evidence should be produced and those involved should be brought to justice. On the other hand, if all protocols were followed and the tender was rightfully awarded to AWS then the question we Malawians should be asking ourselves is “who is behind ‘this attempted smear campaign’ and what is their agenda? Success is always followed by jealousy therefore let’s look forward and not backwards. Onena nenani… “Malawian tenders for Malawian Workers” congratulations to AWS, ASIP and A-Investments on their tender success
I have been following this story and it saddens me kuti we can have a problem with a name kapena a family. Especially this one. It is African Development Bank project for Gods sake and the man is qualified full stop!
So mumafuna asapamnge business ndi boma just because they are related with the Mias? Nsanje idzatipha Amalawi
Well put
The Almighty Allah should continue blessing the Mias
these guys are good guys
and if they spend their own money to buy and supply surely they have to make a profit
and with government they can pay you maybe after 255 years.
whom ever wrote this article Nayenso ndi mbuzi. ayi ayi, ndi chende ya mbuzi
The Mia family have been in the animal business for more than 20 years as he said. The Man is capable of doing what he knows best.
Let us not relate his business and politics. AWS trucking owner is no a politician. His late brother was. And it doesn’t make him to be a politician no. No one can say he have seen him in any rallies .
Tichotse nsanje amalawi.
He won the tender cause he is able to supply n transport the goats. Which is needed by the (DoDma) .
Achira.
Apaseni panado…..
The more you give, the more you get. The Mias help the poor. Allah helps them too.
Learn to write bids well my fellow citizens Next time it could be you. Jealousy solves nothing.
Let’s have a productive day today and breathe in some positive energy
Achira. Apaseni panado
Let business be business. Politics be politics. When a politician goes on radio, TV and social media to discredit a businessman it is wrong.
Mwayesa African Development Bank ndi yokhweka? They check everything before awarding.
Don’t tarnish the name of African Development Bank with politics and jealousy. They have integrity and high standing.
May Hon Mohammed Sidik Mia rest in peace. His name is being unfairly implicated. Let’s respect the departed. 😓
I seek forgiveness for the sinner
What we have here are traders not businessmen. For most of them to survive they try hard to put themselves in spotlight by corruptly making hefty donations in cash and material to politicians, political parties and the locals. They are the most corrupt guys and thom was just unlucky. Most traders here, the asians except the chinese and the locals compete in this gamble of dishing out donations with one goal of winning government contracts. Whether you like it or not this is the truth behind the success of most asians and malawian so called businesses. Veteran politicians know this and thats why they turn aggressive to every business they fear could resustate any opposition to them. One of our great statesman once said, “teach someone to catch fish rather than donations.” Ufulu kupha. Its laughable to see the myopics cherishing handouts as charitable work. These guys are canning and all they want is to always get the lions share of our hard earned taxes. This seems to be mbuzigate.