By Chisomo Phiri

A statistical research on honesty and integrity conducted by a local firm called Products and Services Bureau Ltd(PSB) between 2006 and 2019 has disclosed that 98 percent of human beings such as merchants/ service providers, corporate managers, public service officers and youth are corrupt, dishonest and nepotistic.

This was disclosed by PSB founder and executive chairman William Sichinga on Wednesday at Blantyre Sports Club.

Sichinga said 2 percent of human beings could be incorrupt and honest, but have different levels of nepotism.

He indicated that 97 percent of family and friends expect and exert pressure on their relations in power and on duty to favour them on business, employment, education, and health opportunities hence an increase in corruption cases.

However,as a way of crippling such rising number of corruption cases most especially in tendering and procurement of goods and services, Sichinga said their company has introduced a digital platform called ‘tenderite’-the first ever corruption vaccine in Malawi.

He said this is a digital platform used by institutions to source and evaluate quotations and bids to deter corruption, fraud, bias, unfairness and nepotism.

“The computerized system checks the process from acquirement of bids and tenders, quotations, processing and evaluation.

“Since 2021 when the product was introduced, we have a client base of about 150 companies. So far, we have handled over 3 000 tenders and bids for goods and services.

“The product has proved valuable in the insurance industry so much that five of the eight players in the country are our clients,”said Sichinga.

According to him, the platform reduces the human influence in procurement decision making.

“It is consumers who suffer the most in corrupt settings since they get goods and services at values higher than the normal prescription.

“So we are going into more awareness on how the application will help them get fair deals,”he said.

He added:” Consumers can now control and stabilize prices of goods and services by supporting firms on tenderite.

“Tenderite is a very important tool as it shields consumers, shareholders, voters from predatory executive managers of businesses and government.

“Smart and honest executive managers appreciate and rely on tenderite as one of their most important tools for personal and institutional integrity,” Sichinga explained.

He then named Reunion Insurance Company Ltd as their 2022 tenderite institution of integrity.

PSB, is a products and services broker with the primary objectives of preventing occurrence of corrupt and fraudulent practices, and rendering a society of equal opportunities for all.

The company’s goal is to eliminate corruption and promote equality in Malawi and across the globe.