Oshakati
The northern branch of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has castigated the Oshakati Town Council for alleged favouritism, nepotism and corruptly awarding tenders to selected companies at the expense of the local business community.
Speaking at a business breakfast meeting a highly infuriated NCCI northern branch chairperson, Tomas Iindji, said the town council excludes local business people when awarding tenders, but ironically seeks funds from the same business people to support its activities.
“Council tenders are only given to some few individuals, but when they need support for their activities like the Totem Expo they want the same people who they claim not to have resources and machinery, to support them. Where do they get the money if they do not get jobs?” questioned Indji.
Indji’s sentiments were echoed by another local businessman Veiko Haimbodi who accused the town council of having failed to empower the local business community.
Without mentioning names, Haimbodi accused the town council of awarding two N$40-million tenders to one contractor in a period of two weeks at the expense of other bidders.
Responding to questions at the meeting, the manager of planning and properties at the town council, Onesmus Shilunga, said participants should differentiate between projects that were awarded by council and those that were awarded by government under the ministry of regional and local government to spearhead the mass urban land servicing project, which is currently underway at the town.
The public relations officer at the town council Jackson Muma also dismissed the allegations.
“There is no contractor that was given two tenders worth N$40 million in two weeks. It is not true – we know who is being referred to here but Nexus got the second tender to service Ehenye under the mass urban land servicing project at the end of a tender which was given to them mid-last year. It is not two weeks and mind the mass urban land servicing scheme is not a council project,” stressed Muma.
Nexus was appointed to service 310 plots to the tune of over N$40 million in December last year.
Muma however warned against defining local in terms of race.
Muma said the council is committed to empower local businesses and has always prioritised them.
“We have about four companies doing different work at Ehenye, so one cannot say we have neglected the locals because even Nexus is a local company,” said Muma.
Muma, however, stressed that quality cannot be compromised. He said there are a few business people who indeed compromise quality and subsequently do not complete projects in the specified time.
“And as a council quality and finishing our projects timely are a prerequisite,” said Muma.
The Nexus executive director Kelly Nghixulifwa said the N$80 million contract at Oshakati is just a mere fraction of the work Nexus is contracted to do across the country.
“So what if people are content with the quality of work that we do? We at Nexus do not disappoint, we deliver on time; we have also lost tenders to other companies,” said Nghixulifwa.
Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun advised against destroying good corporate image through selfish decisions.
Namundjebo-Tilahun said it is imperative to build a competitive business environment to attract investors to local authorities.
She said irregular public procurement and questionable land sales “create uneasiness and major concerns in the minds of investors and result in a less favourable investment climate.”