MPs blast minister over E12 million
µµ The company was awarded the tender ahead of RSTP, which had offered to do the elections for E800 000. Another company, which the minister identified as Wits Tech also made a bid for the tender with a cost of E1.2 million.
MBABANE – Was it jackpot" 0inister of +ousing and 8rban 'evelop ment 3rince Simelane had a tough time explaining a E million elections tender awarded to Slomoes Corporation for the munic ipal council elections. The company was awarded a tender worth E million to provide a system for the local government election exercise.
The tender award has attracted the wrath of 0embers of 3arliament 03s , who took the minister to task, demanding answers on how the tender was awarded and why it was given to the most expensive bidder.
8niversal and standard procurement procedures dictate that the bidder with a lowest offer is usually awarded the tender.
The company was awarded the ten der ahead of the 5oyal Science and Technology 3ark 5ST3 which had offered to do the exercise, for E800 000. $nother company which the minister identified as Wits Tech also made a bid for the tender with a cost of E . million.
It has been established that the ten dering process takes into account two components ± technical aspect which determines capacity, execution time lines and Tuality. The second aspect looks at pricing.
It is said that the technical aspect in a tender usually accounts for 0 per cent and the balance 0 per cent is for pricing.
The 03s Tuestioned 0inister Sim
aelane on why the municipal elections were expensive yet the voter turnout was not huge enough.
1d]ingeni 03 /utfo 'lamini said the local government elections were proving to be too expensive for the nation.
+e said the minister proved to have powers to sack municipal councils and, therefore, the local government election was a waste of money.
INTROSPECT
'lamini called for the election to be postponed and the 0inistry of +ousing and 8rban 'evelopment to introspect and find reasons for such amount to be spent on elections.
³The minister has proven that he can do anything and even fire the coun cils. 0y Tuestion then becomes the reason for government to host such an expensive exercise if the minister has such power. E million is too much. 0inister even I can host the elections for way too cheaper than that. This election is proving to be too expensive for government and I intend to move a motion to stop this if the minister fails to give us valid reasons why the system to host the election cost this amount. When I heard other 03s say the figure I thought it was a joke. We cannot spend this much on this,´ said 'lamini.
+e further asked the minister if the procurement procedure was followed when awarding the tender. 'lamini elaborated on how the minister was addressing conflicts within the coun cils and blamed him for firing mem bers of councils.
+e further said the country should consider shelving the elections be cause they were disturbing the na tional elections and shadowing it with such scandals.
SHAM
³The King spoke in this chamber and said the country will be going to the polls and now I do not under stand what we are doing clouding the national elections with such a sham. I believe it is time we make a decision on which one we should listen to. This is just a disturbance and should be put on pause at least until after the national elections. We cannot spend this much money on an election process that has such a small voter registration,´ he said.
03 0alavi Sihlongonyane also weighed in on the matter and said the +ouse should consider moving a motion on the matter.
³I am not even part of this com mittee, but I wanted to have a say on the E million issues because I believe it should be addressed and the people be saved from spending such exorbitant funds. The minister should give clarity on why the elections are so expensive. I am happy that other