The Association of Civil Construction Contractors of Cabo Delgado province accused the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) of "systematically disadvantaging local contractors in favor of foreign companies" in the use of funds made available for the rehabilitation of public infrastructure destroyed by cyclones in 2019.

According to a letter released by the Association and quoted by AIMAccording to the report, "it is unacceptable that the UNDP in Pemba (the capital of Cabo Delgado) operates in an opaque and manipulated manner by a trio on the evaluation committee, which systematically disadvantages local contractors in favor of external companies. Even when contractors try to use established channels, the trio exerts control over them, undermining any possibility of fair competition."

To this end, the group is calling for an urgent and impartial investigation into the UNDP's practices in Pemba, stressing the need for transparency and accountability in the awarding of contracts, including a rigorous assessment of the companies selected and ensuring that they meet the necessary technical and legal requirements.

"Following recent discriminatory and prejudiced practices towards local contractors in Cabo Delgado by the UNDP, we feel obliged to make a public denunciation. The UNDP, with its criteria and objectives aimed at contributing to the human development and growth of the country, is not applying these principles in Cabo Delgado. We have identified a worrying lack of transparency and fairness in the processes of awarding contracts, especially in the recent tenders for water supply in the region," reads the letter.

Regarding the water supply tenders in the Quissanga district, the group claims that they were awarded to a single company based in Maputo, despite the fact that it had the highest prices and had no proven experience in works of similar complexity in Mozambique.