Company allegedly refuses to start E4.8 million project

MBABANE- On February 9 this year, a construction company, was awarded a tender of close to E5 million by government, but the entity has allegedly refused to commence with the project.

The company, (name known to this publication) was able to beat other construction companies and won the government tender to the tune of E4 864 249.46. Well-placed sources have disclosed to this publication that the company had allegedly informed government that it would not commence the construction of the cooling station and at a location known to this publication.

Efforts from Eswatini News to get the side of the construction company to verify the information that has been gathered proved futile. This publication first sent a WhatsApp message on Wednesday, but there was no response until the time of going to press, even though the message was received. We wanted to know from the company if the allegations were true that it had refused to commence with the said project last month. Further, this newspaper wanted to know the reasons behind the delayed commencement of the construction. Lastly, we wanted to know why the company vied for the project’s tender if they were not willing to proceed with it at the first place.

Responses

Meanwhile, an attempt by this reporter on Thursday proved futile as when he called the company’s business line, he was not able to speak to the director of the company. However, a secretary who refused to disclose her name answered the phone and asked this reporter to wait as she was going to speak first to the director or superior who was in the office. “This company does not speak to the media and we ask that you speak to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for further information and responses to your enquiries,” said the secretary when she returned to the phone after consulting.

A press release from the ministry’s Principal Secretary (PS), Thulani Mkhaliphi reads: “The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has commissioned (name withheld) to carry out the construction of the cooling station. The tenders were commissioned on February 9, 2023.” The PS, when contacted, said he was not aware that the said company had such issues. “When we award tenders, on the day of the signing of the contract, we don’t include matters from other contracts. We expect the company that has been awarded the tender to finish the said project at the agreed period. If that doesn’t happen, we then charge that company a penalty,” he said.