Contractor abandons Nkurenkuru clinic

A contractor appointed to build a primary healthcare facility at Nkurenkuru that was supposed to have been completed in 2015, says he has been waiting for material from South Africa for the past two years.

Shafombabi Eedopi Construction was supposed to complete the facility on 15 April 2015 but has completed only 70% of the work.

Of the budgeted N$28 million, N$22 million has already been spent.

Approached for comment on Monday, the contractor, Andrew Shafombabi, said he had not abandoned the site and was waiting for material he had ordered from South Africa.

He said he would resume work on the project next week.

Nicodemus Chidhakwa, the health ministry's capital projects regional coordinator for the two Kavango regions, briefed Vice-president Nickey Iyambo about the project.

Chidhakwa said the contractor still needed to install a generator, electrical wiring and fire extinguishers.

“The building also has many defects that the contractor has to come back and repair,” he said. Some of these defects affect the external sewer system, sanitary fittings, ceilings, doors, some of the floors and the water tower.

Chidhakwa, who is an electrical engineer, said the works ministry might have to identify a new company to complete the facility.

“We tried to engage the contractor in 2015 and gave him extra time up to October 2015 to tell us what his challenges were, but he abandoned the site,” he said.

NAMPA