2013-10-23Staff Report 2 WINDHOEK - Some locals who tendered for the reticulation of the sewerage pipes at Donkerhoek in Khorixas cried foul when the tender was awarded to a Windhoek based company, asking how the business community in the town could be empowered if tenders are only being awarded to “outsiders”. According to one businessperson who requested anonymity, even quantity surveyors are being appointed by city councillors who work in cahoots with them. “The councillors have an influence on which construction work is taken by whom,” said the source. The source said Windhoek’s Africa Civils tendered N$2.5 million to do the reticulation work though Khorixas bidders that tendered for less did not make the grade. But Eben Xoagub, Strategic Executive Officer (SEO) of Human Resources at the Khorixas Town Council, dismissed the claims as false and baseless. He said the town council is not even the one that decides which tender succeeds. “We don’t even know the owners of the company (Africa Civils),” he said, explaining that the Tender Board advertises the tender, receives all the tender documents and evaluates them. Xoagub said that three companies were recommended but two were unsuccessful because one tendered too low and would financially not be able to perform the work, while the other one did not have enough experience. By Magreth Nunuhe 2013-10-23Staff Report 2
