The Rural Electrification Authority has with immediate effect cancelled two grid extension contracts due to failure by the contractor to deliver.
Authority Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Musonda told Journalists in Lusaka that the contractor Plinth Ltd was engaged to undertake the grid extension projects in Northern Province and Chingola.
Mr. Musonda explained that the contractor was engaged to undertake the works last year but has failed to deliver.
He revealed that the contractor was given an extension but still failed to complete the two projects adding that the authority was left with no other option but to terminate the contract.
Mr. Musonda has also disclosed that eight out of the 21 grid projects REA had embarked on in 2012 have been completed.
Lethargy at work.Is there any local contractor capable of rising to the occasion to deliver and compete with the best foreign firms?
I would like to think there are professional contractors and Zambian companies that would deliver if only contracts were awarded purely on merit and quality of tender submitted. Unfortunately, these contractors will continue to be sidelined basically because they do not have the right connections, or are politically neutral and do not offer the kick backs that some awarding/connected people expect. Its professionally heart breaking to see all these contractors that has sprang up with no know how but are used as a conduit to syphon funds even though the quality of the product delivered is substandard. Just look at road construction. Nearly everyone from nurses to counselors so long as they are connected to a minister/deputy minister have all gone into the construction the industry.
Way to go. Abash fake contractors! Try farming!
I doubt they would go farming as there isn’t easy money to be made there and yet for the good of the economy, this is where the government needs to pump money and diversify. However, we have heard these calls from Kaunda’s time and little progress is made. Look at how the boer farmer from Zimbabwe and South Africa and now the Chinese are putting the arable land to use. Its easier for a fake contractor to access serious money than a genuine farmer for agricultural operations.
These must be the briefcase contractors we hear about or the contract was given because someone knows someone. Nowonder works are always poor.
What a shame!
Professional Zambian contractors are there who are able to compete with the foreign companies and deliver projects on time…its just the ingrain corruption that makes the tender process flawed…end result is brief case businesses with no track record sneaking through. One example is Wytner Kabimba’s Midland Energy formed in a space of months and its awarded million dollar contract to supply our fuel. Yet we are still waiting his ERB Commission of inquiry report he chaired in early 2012.
Politicians will never clean up the system they will forever take turns helping themselves, let no one cheat you…we need to wake up and get rid of these ticks and fleas!!
I knew this would happen. The banker they were using is very corrupt and pompus.
Very good.
closed this company and let the directors be investigated. Us locals are crying for contracts yet we can do anything. Foolish. We have to much pride in being bosses with big deals yet we are just failiers.
sorry i meant yet we cant do anything
This is the same company that failed to construct Gardenia Road in Avondale and abandoned the project after securing up front payment.NCC take note.
In honesty how do such useless companies even get through to the tender process and get considered….they can’t even undertake something as simple as grid extension. I bet you the CEO is proudly driving around in the full spec Range Rover.
Plinth Ltd is not owned by a Zambian but by some guy from Uganda. His offices are in Woodlands and we know these people.
Exactly my point. There is someone who is pushing there tenders to win these contracts. Wonder what EIZ (Engineering Institute of Zambia) does. It must be in their mandate to regulate these contractors. Strike them off the register if they are bring the engineering profession into disrepute.
This is under-performance, 8 out 21 = 38%! It is an F. Or may be we do not have enough information but it is an indication of why such things are happening. Can someone overhaul REA.
ati “in Northern Province and Chingola”
This is the problem we have in zambia, you are given a contract on a silver plate and all you think of first is to buy yourself an expensive car and finish the unfinished plot in chalala then the project becomes the second priority to you. In fact REA should take this company to court for failure to honor and delaying progress. Useless companies.
I think i can even do a better job!
Very useless company…a corrupt firm and a firm being pushed by corrupt people who are good for nothing but just thieves. Please close that company .
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.