Construction of the multi-million dollar
Chinese company, China Nanchang Engineering, won the tender to construct the dam, planned years ago to not only expand
In an interview,
"It's due to take off this week, barring any challenges," he said. "We expect the contractor to move on site this week and immediately start some works which include site establishment, that is mobilisation of heavy construction equipment and construction of site offices, including workers camps.
"There must also be commencement of dam foundation excavations. Everything being equal, including availability of sufficient funds, the dam is expected to be substantially completed by 2023."
Eng Maurukira did not expect legal challenges from losing bidders to delay the project which he said would be a huge relief to
There have been concerns from one of the losing bidders,
They also accused Zinwa of flouting the enabling law which provides that an accounting officer could not after closure of bids, request information that change the substance of the bid or that has the effect of substantially altering anything that is the deciding factor in the evaluation of the bid
This was after Zinwa requested bidders to pay administrative fees for the regulator's special procurement oversight committee which had to sit to consider the bids.
Commenting on the allegations by the losing bidder yesterday, Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the adjudication of the bid was above board since all procedures were followed.
The procedures, she said, included floating of tender in a
She said aggrieved bidders were supposed to file their objections within 14 days which had since lapsed.
"ZINWA wishes to advise that price alone is not the only factor that informs the decision to award a tender," said Mrs Munyonga. "Tenders are evaluated using three broad categories namely the preliminary or mandatory stage, the technical evaluation and financials."
Explaining how they adjudicated the project, PRAZ chief executive officer, Mr Clever Ruswa said a losing bidder was expected to lodge an appeal within 14 days with a prescribed amount for security of costs, which was not done in the present case.
He said
But the company was told the regulations could not be altered or waived. So legally there was no valid appeal before PRAZ.
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