Govt drags Furniture Company to court
ATTORNEY General Likando Kalaluka has sued Supersonic International Limited over undelivered pieces of furniture which has already been paid for. Mr Kalaluka wants the court to order the firm to pay the unliquidated sum for the undelivered furniture to the Judiciary of the Government of Republic of Zambia. He is seeking damages for breach of contract as well as interest at bank rate with effect from 2011 until full payment. Mr Kalaluka states in his writ of summons filed in the Lusaka High Court registry that in 2010 Supersonic International (Z) Limited was awarded a contract through a tender process to make and deliver an assorted number of furniture of about 387 pieces. The furniture among them were tables, chairs and benches which were meant for the 15 newly constructed local courts of the Judiciary. The contract was for the sum of K377, 580 which amount was fully paid in advance to Supersonic in 2011. Mr Kalaluka alleges that Supersonic only delivered 165 pieces of furniture leaving a substantial number of about 222 as undelivered furniture being tables, chairs and benches which has to date remained undelivered since 2014. He said that several attempts have been made to compel Supersonic International (Z) Limited to deliver the remaining furniture as per contract but to no avail. Mr Kalaluka said that in course of pursuing Supersonic International (Z) Limited and upon making an unexpected visit at their premises in Livingstone, it was discovered that the firm is apparently not in operation or has ceased operations. Several attempts were also made to engage the firm by telephone but they were and are unreachable and calls unanswered. Mr Kalaluka said the defendant has failed to deliver the remaining furniture without any justifiable reason or at all despite repeatedly being reminded to do so.