Minister Bility Reports; 285 Earth Moving Equipment Is Anticipated in Liberia

BUT, THE NEWS MEET MIX-REACTION FROM THE PUBLIC

Monrovia, Liberia – About 285 earth moving equipment are anticipated to arrive in Liberia, according to Minister of State without Portfolio Mamaka Bilility. The Minister of State without Portfolio stated that each of the fifteen counties will receive nineteen pieces of earth moving equipment when she made her presentation at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town on Friday, May 24, 2024, at the Cabinet meeting.

According to the Minister, 285 pieces of branded earthmoving equipment would shortly arrive in Liberia and be distributed throughout the nation.

She claimed that the President Project Delivery Unit is in charge of the project and that they would be doing more work in the upcoming days, weeks, months, and years.

According to Minister Bility, the government’s action is a component of its ARREST Agenda, which focuses on road building.

She clarified that the government will respond to the maintenance zones across the nation as part of the project.

The Minister explained that the Armed Forces of Liberia’s engineering section will help the government build maintenance zones throughout the nation.

Bridges will be built as part of the project’s design, she told the President and his representatives.

“We are working and our plan to ensure that no car will be stuck in the mud is gradually being rolled out, and we will increase our work and visibility.”

The minister announcement has cause mix-reaction in the Liberian public. Instead of celebrating the good news, the people of Liberia has look down on the news despite the good news to improve road accessibility.

Prominent among these are current law makers, activist and Unity Partisans.

Activist Martin K. N. Kollie writes…

We want development for Liberia and Liberians but not through the Faustian Bargain (Deal with the Devil). No business as usual. This was what we promised our people, and we must live by this standard. Anything less than this is a PROMISE betrayed.

The main dealer behind the “285 yellow machines” announced by the Minister of State without Portfolio is a South African Businessman, Robert Gumede, who has been at the center of corruption allegations and mass scandals. He’s widely described as an “ally” and a “chief funder” of Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was recently hit by U.S. sanctions over corruption on March 4, 2024. Doing business with Gumede has economic and political implications for Liberia.

Did the Government of Liberia do any due diligence to know who Robert Gumede is and what his business dealings have been? Through an AI-generated video of the yellow machines, Gumede of Guma Group is fronting for the Liberian government to “procure” 285 yellow machines from the SANY Group in China for an estimated unconfirmed cost of between “US$30 and US$52 million”.

Do we support the procurement/purchasing of yellow machines for road development and maintenance? Yes, we do, and this initiative is worth commending. Notwithstanding, we simply insist on due diligence and best practices including background checks, legal, and fiscal requirements. We believe Liberia can have a clean deal without dancing with the devil.