Muchinga Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe, has called for the immediate arrest of the contractor engaged to construct Donald Siwale Technical Secondary School in Nakonde district.
Construction of Donald Siwale Technical Secondary School by a construction company called SAVENDA commenced in 2011 at a cost of K18 million.
Mr Nundwe told the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Nakonde shortly after a conducted tour of the project that the contractor received a down payment of K11 million in the same year and has continued to get more money for the project.
Mr Nundwe, however, said not much has been done on the infrastructure which was due for completion in 2013.
He added that efforts have been made in the past to ask the contractor to expedite the works and not much has been achieved, saying the government now has one option left and this is to call for the arrest of the contractor.
He directed the police to look for the contractor who is believed to be a resident of Lusaka and ensure that he is brought to Nakonde.
Mr Nundwe warned that government cannot continue spending money on projects which are not moving, adding that it has also become very costly when projects take long to be completed.
On the 171 km Mbala/Nakonde Road being constructed by China CMMC at a cost of 180 million United States Dollars, Mr Nundwe said he is happy that the project is nearing completion.
Mr Nundwe advised the contractor to ensure that the project is completed by June 19, next year as per contractual agreement.
About 10 km of the stretch is reaming to finish the construction of the road that commenced in 2011.
Once completed, the Nakonde/Mbala Road will boost agricultural development in the two regions of Northern and Muchinga Provinces as well as providing the shortest route to the Great Lakes Region for countries in East Africa.
The problem is that Chishimba Kambwili and Karzia Zulu get alot of money from bribes in road contracts.
No No Ba Nundwe,
You cannot arrest the contractor for breach of contract. This is a civil matter and your recourse / remedy lies in contract. Here are a few options for you to consider
1. Terminate The contractor’s employment undser the terms of the contract.
2. Call in the bond
The contractor has obviously chewed the money and has no resources to complete the project. Terminate under contractor and then pursue the bugger under common law. But I don’t see this happening as he probably has other government contracts and is “eating”with some bib people. Just how you advance ZWK11Million on an ZWK18Million contract is in itself mind boggling
And you still award Savenda road contracts the whole govt procurement procedure is rife with corruption.I suggest you use NCC and ACC to scrutinize and avail you with the capability of this company as it has being given alot of contracts which are still outstanding.
Payment is only done after certain conditions have been met. And certificate has been issued.
If this did not happen then it is a clear case of FRAUD which is a criminal offence and he can be arrested.