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Fairness Moyana in Hwange
HWANGE councillors have been divided over proposals by the local body to award a tender to a company that is alleged to have “suspicious operations” under a debt swap deal.
Tempers flared at a full council meeting recently when some councillors raised concerns as to why chief executive officer, Mr Phindile Ncube and the Roads Works Committee was pushing council to award a debt swapping deal to Tensor Systems which would see the contractor getting eight hectares of land as payment in lieu, allegedly without following due process.
Clrs Ishmael Kwidini, Givemore Moyo and Joseph Bonda argued the recommendation being proffered by the committee led by Clr Olipha Lisutu indicated that council had already hired a contractor and sealed a deal as opposed to the chief executive officer’s assertions that approval from council was required first.
Council officials wanted Tensor Systems to work on the construction and rehabilitation of Dingani-Lupote-Dopota as well as Mambanje-Dumbitshena roads.
“It appears that we are here to rubber stamp something that has been finalised. Already you are saying from your submissions that you were requested eight hectares of land, a clear sign that you had already struck a deal.
“This is the same contractor who failed to complete a tender and is now being given another tender under strange circumstances.
“If we are not careful these companies are going to suck us dry,” said Clr Bonda.
The committee’s recommendations were that council takes advantage of Tensor Systems working on the Dobolo Road to rehabilitate 9,5km of Kanywambizi-Makala Road under a debt swap arrangement.
Clr Moyo argued it was not in the best interest of council to award companies that failed to complete council projects.
“We can’t give this job to them (Tensor) since they failed to complete their last tender.
“We certainly cannot allow the same company that has failed us to be given another responsibility. What we want is transparency in the handling of these tenders.”
Responding to the concerns, Mr Ncube said the tender was yet to be awarded as it was up to the councillors to approve or turn down the proposal.
“The contract hasn’t been awarded to anyone, what we are saying is that there are contractors on the ground whom we want to take advantage of to service some of our roads through a debt swap deal.
“The roads are critical in that they provide access to clinics and schools. So we want to use the contractor in return for land in lieu of debt and this is an opportunity we have to consider seriously.
“It will be very expensive for us to engage other contractors from outside bearing in mind the relocation fee and other related costs,” he said.
Online Reporter