Following the outbreak of COVID -19, the Executive Secretary in a correspondence dated 6
th March 2020, temporarily suspended all missions by SADC Secretariat and directed that all meetings be held via videoconference or teleconference.The following day, she directed the Deputy Executive Secretary, Corporate Affairs (DES- CA) to expeditiously facilitate the procurement of video conferencing equipment for the Council of Ministers meeting that was to be held from 16
th to 18
th March 2020. The initial meeting was planned to be physically held in the United Republic of Tanzania.A day later, on March 8
th the SADC Secretariat obtained a quotation SO2020-1880 from Inventions Technologies Company Ltd of Tanzania for the supply and installation of video conferencing equipment in Dar es salaam, Tanzania, at cost of $234,270.12 value added tax (VAT) inclusive. The equipment was to be used in the Council of Ministersâ virtual meeting. On the face of it, it all looks like a strai