Secucom International, a security products and systems company from France, says the Malawi government owes it close to US$100 million in stalled contract to make national identity cards.

The company says although there have been “fair agreements” beneficial to both sides, the debt remains unpaid.

Secucom International Chairman Anatol Weinstein said in an interview, however, that Secucom suspects that a “Malawi Octopus” is standing in the way of progress in the promissories signed and as per February 2002 High Court ruling on the case.

But in a separate interview on Saturday, Attorney General Antony Kamanga laughed off the talk of a $100m debt.

“Secucom can go drown in Lake Malawi over the US$100 million. As government we are ready to contest in court. I am serious about this. Their lawyers have written us so that a way forward is found. We have been discussing this matter and we have not concluded it,” Kamanga said.

He observed that the argument from Secucom International is that they had raised money to bring equipment into Malawi “which was their business and there is nothing to show for” on the ground.

Weinstein said 14 years after the initial court order, no payment is being made by Malawi.

“Several times the Malawi Government and us agreed on the way forward mutually beneficial to both sides. Government made commitment to make fair compensation for damages, but all the agreements have not been honoured,” said Weinstein.

He claimed that Secucom International imported office furniture, vehicles and 40 percent of the required hardware for the project valued at US$8 million, but these disappeared at customs warehouse.

“We have all documentation to prove this. Who would have the power to move such a quantity of equipment? All these items were with customs here but cannot be traced,” Weinstein said.

He said the contract Secucom International won would ordinarily have created unnecessary and costly subcontract works such as shooting of pictures and the provision of forms all of which were embedded in its project to ensure that government’s wish that the citizenry get IDs for free was met.

An official from the National Registration confided that the matter had become complex because of a number of issues, hence it was not automatic that Secucom would get paid.

The contract for the Malawi government to issue citizens identity cards was awarded to Secucom International in 1999. Ironically, three other companies had already been shortlisted at that time.