SA Firm To Supply Ballots

SOUTH Africa's Lithotec Exports has been given the go-ahead to supply 10 million ballot papers for next month's presidential elections, reports Yunusu Abbey. The decision was taken yesterday at a meeting chaired by Mr. Jotham Tumwesigye, the Inspector General of Government (IGG) in his offices. "It was agreed that Skipco Pty. Ltd, which had petitioned the IGG over the contract award to Lithotec, would be contracted to supply the ballot papers for the parliamentary and women elections," a source said. Sources said officials from the Electoral Commission (EC), Central Tender Board and SWIPCO attended the meeting. Speaking on telephone yesterday, Tumwesigye said the verdict was taken on the request of the EC. "It should be noted that it is the Electoral Commission that requested my office to allow them continue with the same supplier (Lithotec) though my findings were completely different," he said. "We took that decision in the national interest. We want the presidential elections to be held as per the given time. We did not want to jeopardize the exercise by delaying the supply of the ballot papers," the IGG said. The contract winner is supposed to deliver the ballot papers not later than February 21. Ends