Suppliers cry foul over African Games deal
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday August 16, 2019 12:05
The deal was to supply hospitality kit to Team Botswana that has 144 members; 99 being athletes and 45 officials.
Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) did not flight the tender for the hospitality kit. It is alleged that BNSC decided to take the direct procurement route. Dlala Sports Wear managing director, Lesedi Mmopi said they expected the BNSC to invite companies to tender.
“BNSC know local suppliers and they have been planning for the games for four years. It is an event with a lot of money and we expected them to advertise requesting for quotations. I am not saying that they should have just considered us because we are locals, but we could have submitted our proposals and competed with other companies,” he said. Mmopi said last week, BNSC requested his company to submit a quotation for 155 tracksuits.
“It was late because the team is leaving soon, but we were ready to deliver those tracksuits in 10 days.
We submitted the quotation, unfortunately they did not respond. Feedback is important; either positive or negative. I made a follow up on Wednesday and they promised to get back to me, but with no luck,” said Mmopi.
He said it was not the first time BNSC had contacted them at the 11th hour.
JB Sports general manager, Steve Bothasitse said there was no tender. “We submitted a quotation just like any other company and we were given a Purchase Order (PO),” he said.
Barnes Maplanka of All Kasi, a prominent local clothing brand, declined to comment on the matter, with indications his company had landed the deal, after the team wore All Kasi apparel at yesterday’s send-off ceremony.
BNSC CEO, Falcon Sedimo said requests for quotations were sent out to various suppliers stating quantity, quality, colours and delivery period as required by the sport sector.
He explained that the objective was to reach out to as many capable companies as possible.
“The requirements were that the delivery period should be met, colours (Botswana colours) with proper Botswana blue, branding as per the manual, quantity as required for the entire team and the quality, which would last long and yet is affordable,” he said.
Sedimo said he was not aware of any supplier who was requested to submit a quotation with the BNSC not getting back to them.
He said the commission was on hand to debrief suppliers if need be. He added that suppliers were given responses based on the quality, colours and amount quoted for.