News / Local
BCC risk being taken to court over tuck shops tender
12 Oct 2015 at 08:08hrs | Views
BULAWAYO City Council risk being dragged to court for confining tenders for the lease of tuck shop sites to Cowdray Park residents of Hlalani Kuhle only excluding other suburbs, Bulawayo24.com has learnt.
The warning came from councillors who said excluding residents for other townships was tantamount to segregation and would back fire.
Council sought bids for sites in the sprawling township.
According to a council report, a total of 64 people responded to the tender advertisement.
The adjudication of the tender forms was held on 24
The committee said it faced difficulties in proving that the applicants were genuine residents of Cowdray Park Hlalani Kuhle phase 4.
It said 'Tenants are residents but the challenge is that they can move out anytime to other area which is not Cowdray Park".
However, councillors raised a red flag on the tender process.
"The matter was considered and Councillors were concerned about the irregularity of the advertisement which invited tenders for the lease of tuck shop sites from Cowdray Park residents of Hlalani Kuhle only, thereby excluding residents from other suburbs" reads part of the report.
Councillor Naphat Sibanda said that this was against tender procedures.
Councillor Lot Siziba concurred saying that tender procedures/policy was violated adding that 'Every Bulawayo resident had a right to tender anywhere in Bulawayo. This would set an undesirable precedent".
The City Legal Officer advised that tenders must be open. "However the committee could then exercise its criteria on allocation. She observed that there were no complaints, but the issue could trigger challenges which would warrant them to be defended in a competent court" added the report.
The warning came from councillors who said excluding residents for other townships was tantamount to segregation and would back fire.
Council sought bids for sites in the sprawling township.
According to a council report, a total of 64 people responded to the tender advertisement.
The adjudication of the tender forms was held on 24
The committee said it faced difficulties in proving that the applicants were genuine residents of Cowdray Park Hlalani Kuhle phase 4.
It said 'Tenants are residents but the challenge is that they can move out anytime to other area which is not Cowdray Park".
However, councillors raised a red flag on the tender process.
"The matter was considered and Councillors were concerned about the irregularity of the advertisement which invited tenders for the lease of tuck shop sites from Cowdray Park residents of Hlalani Kuhle only, thereby excluding residents from other suburbs" reads part of the report.
Councillor Naphat Sibanda said that this was against tender procedures.
Councillor Lot Siziba concurred saying that tender procedures/policy was violated adding that 'Every Bulawayo resident had a right to tender anywhere in Bulawayo. This would set an undesirable precedent".
The City Legal Officer advised that tenders must be open. "However the committee could then exercise its criteria on allocation. She observed that there were no complaints, but the issue could trigger challenges which would warrant them to be defended in a competent court" added the report.
Source - Byo24News
