Something 'fishy' with CUCSA tender?
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 22, 2018 12:16
It is alleged that tendering procedures were flouted when production company, Prime Systems, got the nod to supply equipment for the CUCSA Games opening ceremony. The company won the tender reported to be worth P590,000.
Pabalinga, however, denied that tender procedures were flouted. He said there was a Request for Quote (RFQ) sent out and Prime Systems came out tops on concept as well as being much cheaper than all bidders.
“Prime Systems is a Botswana-based company that is 100% citizen-owned. Allegations that a South African company was hired are false. All suppliers for the CUCSA Games are local companies. No foreign entity was engaged,” he said.
Pabalinga said Prime Systems was paid less than P590,000.
“I cannot get into how much they were paid as it is between them and BNSC who issued them a purchase order. If you want to know the exact amount, contact BNSC,” Pabalinga said, maintaining all procuring procedures were followed. Asked when the RFQ was sent out and how, Pabalinga referred Mmegi Sport to BNSC saying he did not handle operational issues.
“Why don’t you ask them? As LOC chairperson I do not deal with procurement issues,” he said. Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng told Mmegi Sport that they would open an enquiry into the matter.
“We are going to set up an investigation team to deal with the issue. Botswana Tertiary Student Sports Association (BOTESSA) is our affiliate and they must come clean and tell us what happened,” he said.
Reikeletseng said some people in the LOC were not aware of government procurement procedures. The chairperson said the BNSC is planning to establish an International Games Organising Committee, which would focus on all international games hosted in the country.
He said that is meant to ensure everything is done according to book. BOTESSA president, Herbert Letsebe expressed ‘unhappiness’ at allegations levelled against Pabalinga.
“When we learnt about the allegations, we summoned Pabalinga so that he could explain to us what was going on.
We could not allow BOTESSA to be associated with such issues. He denied everything and said it was just part of their war as music promoters.
We believed him,” Letsebe said. Asked if he was aware of BNSC’s intention to institute an investigation into the matter, Letsebe said he had not been informed. He, however, said BNSC is within its rights to investigate the matter.