Grootfontein
The chief executive officer of Grootfontein Municipality Charles Kariko has dismissed claims of favouritism by upcoming property developers who allege they been sidelined in the award of construction tenders.
Speaking to New Era, some developers charged that they are being overlooked and denied the opportunity to grow and leverage from local construction projects being allocated in the town.
Instead tenders and projects are mostly awarded to individuals that are socially and politically inclined with city councillors, according to the allegations, especially regarding the award of tenders last year when property developers were requested to make presentations.
“Last year we presented our projects to the municipality but up to now I haven’t received any response, but other individuals who we presented with have been awarded plots to start developing. Now one wonders what criteria they are using because most of us meet the requirements and we have experience in the industry,” said Jonas Silas, adding that he has been struggling to get his project off the ground for the past five years.
But Kariko said that that none of those who made submissions last year has been awarded any project.
“They are perhaps just assuming it is so but the truth is no one has received any tender. It is only tomorrow (Tuesday) when the council will sit and deliberate on the matter and all presentations and information were already submitted to it,” he said.
He said the agenda is open and people must be patient, adding that the delay might have been caused by the transition in governance following last year’s regional and local elections.
Grootfontein is one of the towns that seems to have successfully availed serviced land ready for development.
“I cannot give the exact figure of plots to be serviced but Extension 6 is ready to be serviced and tenders have already been advertised while extensions 7 and 8 will follow shortly, we have enough land,” said Kariko.
Another developer who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being prejudiced shared the same sentiments that he has been faced with a big challenge by the municipality in it not availing an opportunity to upcoming businesses, despite their having clients ready.