Gabriel Couto/Kukhanya JV among disqualified contractors

MBABANE - There were irregularities during pre-qualification of suppliers for construction works as the main contractor in the project, Gabriel Couto/Kukhanya Joint Venture was recommended for tendering stage despite not meeting prequalification requirements, according to the AG.

It must be said that Gabriel Couto/ Kukhanya JV was among the disqualified contractors highlighted in a Prequalification Evaluation Report (PER).

The PER, which contained recommended contractors for the tendering stage and those that were disqualified from prequalification stage because they did not meet minimum criterion, was submitted to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

It was mentioned that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Employer) issued a directive to the consultant to redo the prequalification process, a revised report, which was done and submitted to it in December 2012.

Gabriel Couto/Kukhanya JV made it into the list of recommended contractors for the tendering stage after a second prequalification process had been carried out by the project consultant.

Another cause for concern was that the main contractor in the project, Gabriel Couto/Kukhanya JV was awarded a contract without approval by funding agencies, the AG stated. The funding agencies were the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and Opec Fund for International Development (OFID). This was a breach of the loan agreement, which had specified that the borrower should submit for BADEA’s prior approval all proposed contracts and orders for items to be procured out of the proceeds of the loan.

It must be said that Gabriel Couto demobilised from site and suspended their works. This was done in spite of the fact that a joint venture agreement between Gabriel Couto and Kukhanya Civil Engineering had been legitimised by both parties on August 9, 2013 for the sole purpose of tendering for the Nhlangano-Sicunusa construction works.

The Portuguese civil construction company pulled out of the project despite the fact that it was a lead partner in the project. It held a majority shareholding of 70 per cent in the JV while Kukhanya Civil Engineering settled for the balance.

It has to be said that the construction of the Nhlangano-Sicunusa Road has restarted on a high note.

Inyatsi Construction, the contractor, had temporarily left the project site in March 2022, after one of the trucks was petrol-bombed by unknown people.

According to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, progress on MR13 was 27 per cent at that time. It has been learnt that Inyatsi is currently on site.

The contractor has projected to complete the road by July 2023.

Inyatsi Construction has built highways and freeways in the country and outside the borders, including Zambia and Mozambique where it has a presence.

Recently, it was engaged in Somaliland.