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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is mooting a policy to prioritise competent local companies in the granting of tenders for projects as an incentive to cushion them against closure and relocation to other regions.
Over the past years some Bulawayo-based companies have left the city citing an unviable business environment.
Government has declared Bulawayo a Special Economic Zone as a way of attracting investors in a bid to revive the city’s industries.
In an interview yesterday, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni said the local authority wants to cushion some of the local businesses from closure and relocation through offering preferential treatment in tenders.
He said the council was still consulting on how to go about the issue before making it a policy.
“So we are starting the processes. We have to go to council and make the resolution so that we operationalise that thing. This will enable the council to support some of the businesses so that they do not relocate to other regions,” Clr Mguni said.
“We are saying in case there are some tenders that the council is issuing, we have to put Bulawayo businesses first before we consider other areas.”
Some years back the local authority lost more than $300 000 in a botched ambulance and vehicle tracking system deal after engaging briefcase companies from Harare.
Local businesses have in the past also complained that the local authority was sidelining them in the awarding of tenders.
However, council officials have blamed local companies for failing to do proper paperwork resulting in them losing to outsiders.
Clr Mguni said it was prudent for local companies to put their papers in order and the fact that council wants to prioritise them does not mean they should make mediocrity a standard of excellence.
He said Bulawayo companies should engage consultants to teach them what is required of them before they submit tender applications.
“What is important is that they must have capacity to justify why they are being prioritised ahead of other companies from outside,” Clr Mguni said.
“So the first port of call is that our people should be empowered. They should learn to engage project managers, people who can assist them in producing credible documents. Things should be done professionally.”
— @nqotshili.
derick.khumalo