‘Benz-buying’ contractors leave govt projects in limbo, Sankwasa says
Urban development minister James Sankwasa says most contractors delay completing construction work because they forget about their workers and buy Mercedes-Benzes and other luxuries after receiving the first payment.
Sankwasa made the remarks during the recent commissioning of infrastructure projects in Otavi. According to Sankwasa, workers are neglected while projects suffer as a result.
"The first priority when you get paid should be to pay the workers their salaries so they can continue working. Then you can keep whatever remains. Not the other way around, where you pay yourself first and leave the workers with what's left," he said.
The minister said this behaviour has seriously affected the construction of the project.
He told the contractor who completed the projects that they should not just see themselves as working in Otavi.
"You should see Otavi as a reference point, a place that sets an example, and also as a foundation for future projects," he added.
Sankwasa also emphasised the need to address unemployment.
"If you manage this project well and get another one elsewhere, you can employ more people, and then more, and in that way, we reduce unemployment," he said.
Earlier this year, NamWater said the failure of local contractors to complete various water projects, valued at N$315 million since 2021, has prompted the utility to consider more efficient international companies.
This follows accusations from the Namibia Local Business Association (Naloba) that the national water utility favours international contractors when awarding water infrastructure projects.
Concerns over local companies
NamWater expressed concern over the number of key water projects still unfinished by local companies in a statement issued.
"There have been instances where projects awarded to local entities have faced significant delays, non-performance or abandonment," NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata said.
The Construction Industries Federation (CIF) chief executive, Bärbel Kirchner, rejected NamWater's stance, arguing that the problem lies in flawed procurement and selection processes.
"While they place blanket blame on 'local contractors' without differentiation and without being transparent about which contractor they are referring to, the underlying problem most likely lies in poor procurement and selection processes by the authority," Kirchner told the media.
She further noted that misalignment between project scopes and the actual capacities of contractors often leads to suboptimal outcomes.
Kirchner warned that this should not be used to justify increasingly preferring foreign contractors.
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Sankwasa made the remarks during the recent commissioning of infrastructure projects in Otavi. According to Sankwasa, workers are neglected while projects suffer as a result.
"The first priority when you get paid should be to pay the workers their salaries so they can continue working. Then you can keep whatever remains. Not the other way around, where you pay yourself first and leave the workers with what's left," he said.
The minister said this behaviour has seriously affected the construction of the project.
He told the contractor who completed the projects that they should not just see themselves as working in Otavi.
"You should see Otavi as a reference point, a place that sets an example, and also as a foundation for future projects," he added.
Sankwasa also emphasised the need to address unemployment.
"If you manage this project well and get another one elsewhere, you can employ more people, and then more, and in that way, we reduce unemployment," he said.
Earlier this year, NamWater said the failure of local contractors to complete various water projects, valued at N$315 million since 2021, has prompted the utility to consider more efficient international companies.
This follows accusations from the Namibia Local Business Association (Naloba) that the national water utility favours international contractors when awarding water infrastructure projects.
Concerns over local companies
NamWater expressed concern over the number of key water projects still unfinished by local companies in a statement issued.
"There have been instances where projects awarded to local entities have faced significant delays, non-performance or abandonment," NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata said.
The Construction Industries Federation (CIF) chief executive, Bärbel Kirchner, rejected NamWater's stance, arguing that the problem lies in flawed procurement and selection processes.
"While they place blanket blame on 'local contractors' without differentiation and without being transparent about which contractor they are referring to, the underlying problem most likely lies in poor procurement and selection processes by the authority," Kirchner told the media.
She further noted that misalignment between project scopes and the actual capacities of contractors often leads to suboptimal outcomes.
Kirchner warned that this should not be used to justify increasingly preferring foreign contractors.
[email protected]
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