N$15m teacher housing project still not completed
A court case continues to stall teachers housing projects in the Kavango West and Ohangwena regions worth close to N$15 million, a situation which some disgruntled educators want resolved as they are forced to currently live in unconducive circumstances.
Kasivi and Katjinakatji combined schools in Kavango West have been teachers’ housing become what some regard as monuments instead of facilities meant to benefit educators.
At Kasivi, the incomplete houses have been used as toilets by learners who opt not to go to the bushes when nature calls, and at Katjinakatji, the incomplete infrastructure stands idle while teachers have been forced to erect corrugated iron shacks to live in.
Namibian Sun has reported on the issue several times over the years, but nothing has changed - apart from the incomplete infrastructure being exposed to vandalism and the elements.
According to Kavango West regional council spokesperson Salomo Tenga, the project was undertaken at national level, not by the council.
He explained that the reason why nothing is happening in regards to the completion of the houses is because of a court case between the state and the contractor, who abandoned the project.
“Those flats are at a number of schools in the region, from Katjinakatji to Mpungu circuit. They were constructed in 2012; it was a national tender. It was being handled by the central government so the regions have no power apart from handing over the sites,” Tenga said.
“The national tender seems to be having a number of issues and it is now before the court between the contractor and the ministry.”
Contract terminated
In 2019, the education ministry said construction had been delayed because Reggy's Trading, the contractor who was awarded the tender to build 23 bachelor flats and two-bedroom units in Kavango West and Ohangwena, could not complete the project, and the contract was terminated.
Reggy's Trading did not accept the termination and the matter was being dealt with by the parties' lawyers.
“The contract was terminated due to the contractor's inability to complete the project within the stipulated period. As to when the project is likely to be completed, there are issues around the termination of the contract and the contractor is aggrieved by this.
“As such, the matter is being handled by our lawyers. Also, a summons was issued to the contractor to appear in court,” the ministry said at the time.
When approached for comment, the ministry echoed its former statement, adding that nothing has changed.
To date, none of the buildings have been completed. N$14.9 million was allocated for the project, and over N$6 million was paid to the contractor.
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Kasivi and Katjinakatji combined schools in Kavango West have been teachers’ housing become what some regard as monuments instead of facilities meant to benefit educators.
At Kasivi, the incomplete houses have been used as toilets by learners who opt not to go to the bushes when nature calls, and at Katjinakatji, the incomplete infrastructure stands idle while teachers have been forced to erect corrugated iron shacks to live in.
Namibian Sun has reported on the issue several times over the years, but nothing has changed - apart from the incomplete infrastructure being exposed to vandalism and the elements.
According to Kavango West regional council spokesperson Salomo Tenga, the project was undertaken at national level, not by the council.
He explained that the reason why nothing is happening in regards to the completion of the houses is because of a court case between the state and the contractor, who abandoned the project.
“Those flats are at a number of schools in the region, from Katjinakatji to Mpungu circuit. They were constructed in 2012; it was a national tender. It was being handled by the central government so the regions have no power apart from handing over the sites,” Tenga said.
“The national tender seems to be having a number of issues and it is now before the court between the contractor and the ministry.”
Contract terminated
In 2019, the education ministry said construction had been delayed because Reggy's Trading, the contractor who was awarded the tender to build 23 bachelor flats and two-bedroom units in Kavango West and Ohangwena, could not complete the project, and the contract was terminated.
Reggy's Trading did not accept the termination and the matter was being dealt with by the parties' lawyers.
“The contract was terminated due to the contractor's inability to complete the project within the stipulated period. As to when the project is likely to be completed, there are issues around the termination of the contract and the contractor is aggrieved by this.
“As such, the matter is being handled by our lawyers. Also, a summons was issued to the contractor to appear in court,” the ministry said at the time.
When approached for comment, the ministry echoed its former statement, adding that nothing has changed.
To date, none of the buildings have been completed. N$14.9 million was allocated for the project, and over N$6 million was paid to the contractor.
[email protected]
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