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uncalled for because it slows development.”
Minister Mangoma said Zesa Holdings will however, go ahead and install the meters in other areas.
The power utility said the installation of test meters in other regions will be done by mid-May.
SPB chairman Mr Charles Kuwaza refused to comment yesterday.
Nyamezela won tenders for the supply of prepaid meters for five Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company regions despite regulations barring firms from bidding for more than three regions.
A Zimbabwean company that lost the bid appealed to the Administrative Court against the award.
BT Critical Power, owned by Mr Blessing Chimangah, accused the SPB and Zesa of breaching their rules.
ZETDC managing director Mr Julian Chinembiri yesterday said Zesa had already signed orders for the supply of 6 000 meters by each winning bidder for test runs for other regions.
After this, Zesa will then sign contracts with the companies.
“Each company tendered for a particular region and the SPB had given tenders for Harare and Bulawayo when no one had met the specifications.
“We will now have to re-tender for the two cities but for other regions we should be up by mid-May,” he said.
In a letter written to bidders on March 12, 2012, SPB principal officer Mr Cledwyn Nyanhete acknowledged the errors made in announcing the winning bidders.
The board accused the secretariat of making errors in transmitting its resolu-tions.
“Accordingly, the board, through PBR 1897C of February 2, 2012, resolved that the transmission error be and is hereby corrected as follows;
“That Lots A2 and C2 for Item 2 (supply of Single Phase Split Prepayment BS-Type Static Energy Meters) earlier awarded to Nyamezela Consultancy Engineering C.C in error, be and are hereby cancelled due to failure by all bidders to meet tender specifications . . .”
He said the board had withdrawn a tender for the supply of three-phase prepayment BS-type static energy meters that had been awarded erroneously.
“That Lot E3 for Item 3 (supply of Three Phase Prepayment BS-Type Static Energy Meters), earlier awarded to ZTE P/L as a result of a ‘cut and paste’ error by the accounting officer, be and is hereby withdrawn and awarded to Nyamezela Consultancy Engineering C.C., the lower bidder to specification…”
However, ZTE P/L had charged US$213.79 while Nyamezela charged US$252.99 per unit.
Another winning bidder, Finmark charged US$207.90 per unit and was given the tender to supply meters for three regions.
ZTE P/L was allowed to supply meters for one region Lot C (western) while Nyamezela was also allowed to supply the meters for Lot E (eastern).
In its court application, BT Critical Power claims that Nyamezela (PVT) Ltd was awarded a tender to supply 265 000 prepaid meters at a cost of US$136.50 per unit yet it was charging US$59 per unit per.
BT Critical Power lawyer, Mr Tazorora Musarurwa of Mambosasa Legal Practitioners, yesterday said they will file an urgent chamber application to stop the tender awards.
He said there was an application at the Administrative Court which in essence froze everything to do with the specific tender until the case is adjudicated.
“We believe there is a wanton disregard of due processes by the SPB forcing us to file an urgent chamber application tomorrow (today) because if they go ahead and award the tenders our appeal will be overtaken by events.
“We filed our application at the Administrative Court in January but they have not yet responded and they are yet to file a record of proceedings as well,” he said.
Online Reporter