Council uses US$750 000 without going to tender

to tender when supplies ran out.
On May 26, the procurement board approved the purchase of 3 000 tonnes of liquid aluminum sulphate at a cost of US$750 000 without going to tender.
Ideally, the city should have contracts with reputable suppliers with whom they sign supply contracts at the beginning of each year.

According to council minutes the haste procurement was because the city had run out of stocks.
“Council notes that liquid aluminum sulphate chemical has run out of stock and it would be against the best interest of council to invite public tenders,” read part of the minutes.

Public tenders are invited to increase transparency in the conduct of business and get the best deal in terms of prices.
Councillors urged city officials to ensure that “in future, chemicals of this nature are procured through a public tender.”

The supply contract was awarded to Chemplex Corporation.
Council has previously complained over the poor quality of the chemical from Chemplex.

The minutes do not state whether a due diligence exercise was done to ascertain whether the quality had improved.
Another contract to supply chlorine gas was awarded to AI Davies again without going to tender. The gas bought was worth US$268 065.

“Council notes that gaseous chlorine for water treatment has run out of stock and it would be against the best interest of council to call for public tenders as the chemical is urgently required,” read the minutes.
Harare spends US$2 million every month to buy water treatment chemicals.

A cocktail of chemicals is used because of the high levels of pollution.
Harare has 189 000 water connections with 15 000 being industrial and commercial.

Each household or business entity pays a fixed water charge that goes towards the maintenance of the water infrastructure.
It is from this income that the city is expected to buy the chemicals for water purification.