Khama dumps new offices
Tefo Pheage | Friday February 19, 2016 16:10
The government had controversially suspended and later re-advertised the Orapa House refurbishment tender when it was one step away from the awarding stage, saying the contractor’s budget proposal was way beyond their budget. However in a shocking turn of events, the same tender re-invitation was cancelled again recently in a move that left all the stakeholders confused and in the dark.
“We can confirm that Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) approved the request by the procuring entity, Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology (MIST), Department of Building and Engineering Services (DBES) to cancel the shortlist of contractors on the 30th of December 2015,” said Keemenao Jappie, the PPADB public relations officer.
The PPADB declined to field other questions saying the ministry could advise better. In response to Mmegi, the Permanent Secretary to the MIST, Dikagiso Mokotedi, confirmed the latest development.
“The client ministry [Office of the President] has decided not to proceed with the project due to its prohibitive cost,” he said. “From MIST point of view the project is out of our radar. The client ministry is the one better placed to say what they intend to do.”
Orapa House, which used to house Botswana Diamond Valuing Company, the entity that transformed into Diamond Trading Company, was supposed to be the new OP to improve the availability of office space.
It is understood that Khama has always had a soft spot for the building due to its high security and stability features. The decision to cancel the re-invitation and later the entire project left all the involved four contractors in the lurch and confused. Orapa House refurbishment has, since tender advertisement, attracted a battle amongst Murray & Roberts, Landmark Projects, Stefanutti Stocks and Katz Holdings.
It is not clear what the authorities have decided, but people close to decision makers are expressing worry that something is fishy. Deepening the mystery is the fact that the latest developments have not been communicated to all stakeholders, as some appeared clueless.
The Permanent Secretary to the President, Cater Morupisi, said they decided to suspend the project due to its unanticipated costs.
Morupisi explained that they would consider engaging the DBES. The DBES is responsible for government building development projects, their associated infrastructure, engineering services and the maintenance of government building, electrical and mechanical work.
He said he did not want to discuss the issue of ditched contracts because it was the responsibility of MIST. The recommended contractor, Katz Holdings’ high-ranking official, who preferred anonymity said that they were clueless and had not heard from the government since their letter to the responsible ministry. “Only God knows,” he said, adding that he did not want to talk much about the issue. Last year, the government announced that the OP would relocate to the highly secured Orapa House after the controversy over the ownership and worth of the building was sorted out. For the last two years this issue has marred Parliament.
The procuring entity, (MIST) and PPADB had taken a decision that only four companies: Murray & Roberts, Landmark Projects, Stefanutti Stocks and Katz Holdings were eligible to refurbish the envisaged State President Ministry - Orapa House. Murray & Roberts is the constructor of Orapa House, which was constructed some decades ago.
The decision to list the four companies was taken after it emerged that not many companies in Botswana had the capacity to do the required work. The work requires a category D certificate.
The tendering process went well until recently when it emerged that the government has now taken a decision to suspend and re-advertise the tender which was at the awarding stage. Mmegi investigations revealed that Katz Holdings was the recommended contractor after scoring 76,6 percent. The other three contractors were disqualified at the technical stage.
Prior to the selection of the four contractors there were concerns from the government leadership over who should be tasked with refurbishment of the OP. This was after Khama gave the project caretakers the word that, “things should be done properly”. The caretakers understood Khama to mean that stern measures should be put in place to avoid a growing ‘catastrophic culture of structural failures’ and unnecessary over expenditures.
The architecture of Orapa House is perfectly designed for grading diamonds taken from Botswana’s diamond mines. It is also capable of standing earth tremors.