adminSenior Sports Reporter
THE African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games’ contractors, suppliers and service providers yesterday took their push for payments a gear up by appealing to Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo, Makokoba legislator and War Veterans Minister Tshinga Dube and Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Dennis Ndlovu.
The group is believed to be owed in excess of $1,5 million for work done for the 2014 Games held in Bulawayo.
The contractors also met the Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane at the ZITF on Thursday where he reportedly told the group that his ministry is equally concerned by the impasse, but was awaiting Treasury to release the money. The group was hoping to attract the attention of President Robert Mugabe, who was in the city for the official opening of the ZITF yesterday.
“Reference is made to the above and we wish to advise that our companies, which were involved in various projects for the Zone Six Youth Games, are on the brink of economic collapse due to outstanding and unpaid invoices. The situation is dire and can no longer be sustained and requires your urgent attention and our assistance as our leaders in Bulawayo,” wrote the contractors, suppliers and service providers.
They said out of all companies that were contracted for the Games, only a few remained operational as others have folded due to non-payment for work done.
“We hoped the Games were (going) to change Bulawayo Metropolitan in the positive, but we note with concern that Bulawayo, for these companies, has never been the same in the negative way. Those few companies still operational are failing to meet their obligations such as rentals, rates, salaries and phone bills,” reads the letter.
They said most of the capital used for the Games’ projects was borrowed from banks and they were now facing litigation, which will soon lead to disposal of their properties at auction rates and attachments of personal and business assets.
“Most of the companies are facing lawsuits and have been blacklisted by suppliers. The Games were held successfully and Bulawayo and Zimbabwe made history by hosting those Games, which left state-of-the-art facilities,” they wrote.
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