malvernmugadzikwa
Nokuthula Dube
THE Harare City Council is battling to recover over US$240 000 from a company it contracted to develop a waste-to-energy project in Mbare, Harare, which was aborted halfway.
Synlak Private Limited was awarded the contract in 2015 to build a 100-kilowatt biodigester for US$465 290.
Funding for the project came partially from the European Union and Harare ratepayers.
However, Synlak reportedly failed to deliver on its contractual obligation, leading to termination of the agreement in 2019.
The biodigester, intended to convert vegetable waste from Mbare Musika into biogas, was never completed.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Harare town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango confirmed the ongoing dispute and revealed that the matter has gone for arbitration.
“The City of Harare cancelled the contract in January 2019 after the contractor failed to perform from around August 2017.
“The city architect carried out an assessment of the work that had been done and the city was satisfied the contractor had done work amounting to US$243 000,” said Eng Chisango.
After cancelling the contract, he said, Harare demanded US$241 000, “which was estimated to be the value of the work that had not been done”.
“In terms of the contract between the parties, on cancelling the contract, or where there was a dispute between parties, the matter would be taken for arbitration,” he said.
The dispute, he added, was duly taken for arbitration in February 2018.
“A pre-arbitration meeting was held on April 30, 2018, with the view of establishing an out-of-court settlement.
“But this process was unsuccessful as the contractor disputed the city’s position.
“So, the matter was then taken for arbitration in October 2018. The matter is still to be concluded by the arbitrator.
“The City of Harare has been patient for close to eight years as we await the findings from the arbitration process,” added Eng Chisango.
The Covid-19 pandemic is also understood to have delayed the process.
Online Reporter