Pohamba wants Tender Board reforms

ONGWEDIVA MERJA IILEKA

President Hifikepunye Pohamba says the Tender Board Act should be amended to ensure that locals are not elbowed out of the tendering processes by foreign companies in a race to secure multimillion-dollar government tenders.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Oshana Regional Mall belonging to business tycoon Ben Zaaruka at Ongwediva on Wednesday, Pohamba admitted that local businesspeople are sometimes sidelined in the awarding of government's big tenders.
Recently, the government awarded a nearly N$3 billion tender to an Italian company for the construction of the Neckartal Dam in the //Karas Region.
Pohamba's remarks on Wednesday came hot on the heels of a call on national television by Zaaruka that the Tender Board should consider locals for big government tenders.
"I'm in agreement with [Zaaruka] that the Tender Board gives tenders to other companies but not the local people," Pohamba said.
"While appreciating foreigners who come to help us build our country, we must also pay attention to local businesspeople," the President added, attracting loud applause from the crowd consisting mainly of local business personalities.
Pohamba pleaded with locals to start producing quality goods to ensure that a decision to give them preference over foreigners in the awarding of government tenders would not be a regrettable one.
"Things are cracking at some schools and clinics. As long as you don't produce quality, you will continue losing money to those who give better service. All I'm appealing to you is that you start producing quality service," said Pohamba.
"When we discussed this issue in Cabinet, we saw that there is a need for the law to be amended and I think the Tender Board [Act] will have to be amended to attend to your needs, but promise me you will give people quality service. If you promise me that, I will support you 110%."
Pohamba also said the Oshana Region has grown and has the capacity to satisfy the demands for large development projects.
The mall, which is expected to create 1 500 permanent jobs, during the construction phase created 350 direct jobs and 600 indirect jobs.
The bulk of the materials used in the construction of the mall were sourced from local suppliers in the Oshana Region.
"This development serves as a good indicator for the government to continue providing a conducive environment for our private sector to thrive, through relevant legislation and creation of appropriate institutions and infrastructure," said Pohamba.