Agri building project abandoned since 2017
Most projects of the agriculture ministry for the past three years have been affected by the exorbitant charges and penalties arising from the Neckartal Dam project.
ONGWEDIVA – The ministry of agriculture, water and land reform will secure sufficient budget allocation during the 2021/22 financial year for further construction on its Ohangwena regional head office at Eenhana.
The deputy director for public relations in the ministry, Chrispin Matongela, said the building was abandoned in 2017 after the contractor left the construction site.
Matongela said the contractor, Spes Bona Construction and Renovations CC, “absconded because of its inability to continue and financial problems” at the time.
“There are no payment disputes, neither outstanding nor unpaid invoices by the ministry.”
Matongela said for the past three consecutive financial years, most ministerial projects were affected by the exorbitant charges and penalties arising from the Neckartal Dam project.
The ministry tender to construct its regional head office at Eenhana was awarded to Spes Bona Construction and Renovations at N$34 million in 2014.
‘DISAPPOINTED’
The minister of agriculture, water and land reform, Calle Schlettwein, during his recent visit to Eenhana expressed disappointment over contractors failing to deliver after being awarded government tenders. He said government will no longer tolerate companies abandoning projects, adding that it wastes taxpayers’ money.
Schlettwein told journalists the construction of the office was supposed to be completed long ago, but the building stands incomplete after construction was started some six years ago.
Through the ministry of works and transport, Schlettwein said his ministry has drawn up a list of unfinished capital projects.
“We have now decided to ensure that all projects are completed as we can’t see taxpayers’ money going to waste like this,” he said.
Approached for comment, a senior representative of Spes Bona Construction and Renovations, who preferred to remain unnamed, said the company abandoned the project due to delayed payment for months on the part of the government.
Although the contract is not yet terminated, “things are tough and the company is thinking of parting ways”, he said.
He concluded by saying the company is proud of the work it did on the building, which is almost complete and “only needs finishing touches”. - Nampa
The deputy director for public relations in the ministry, Chrispin Matongela, said the building was abandoned in 2017 after the contractor left the construction site.
Matongela said the contractor, Spes Bona Construction and Renovations CC, “absconded because of its inability to continue and financial problems” at the time.
“There are no payment disputes, neither outstanding nor unpaid invoices by the ministry.”
Matongela said for the past three consecutive financial years, most ministerial projects were affected by the exorbitant charges and penalties arising from the Neckartal Dam project.
The ministry tender to construct its regional head office at Eenhana was awarded to Spes Bona Construction and Renovations at N$34 million in 2014.
‘DISAPPOINTED’
The minister of agriculture, water and land reform, Calle Schlettwein, during his recent visit to Eenhana expressed disappointment over contractors failing to deliver after being awarded government tenders. He said government will no longer tolerate companies abandoning projects, adding that it wastes taxpayers’ money.
Schlettwein told journalists the construction of the office was supposed to be completed long ago, but the building stands incomplete after construction was started some six years ago.
Through the ministry of works and transport, Schlettwein said his ministry has drawn up a list of unfinished capital projects.
“We have now decided to ensure that all projects are completed as we can’t see taxpayers’ money going to waste like this,” he said.
Approached for comment, a senior representative of Spes Bona Construction and Renovations, who preferred to remain unnamed, said the company abandoned the project due to delayed payment for months on the part of the government.
Although the contract is not yet terminated, “things are tough and the company is thinking of parting ways”, he said.
He concluded by saying the company is proud of the work it did on the building, which is almost complete and “only needs finishing touches”. - Nampa
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