BULAWAYO councillors are divided on what to do about a contractor who won a tender to convert Basch Street Terminus, popularly known as Egodini, to a state-of-the-art regional transport hub.
Luyanduhlobo Makwati Own correspondent
Some councillors were of the view that the project must be re-tendered, as Terraccota Trading (Pty) Ltd, which was awarded the tender, has been shifting goal posts over the past year.
The project was meant to start in January this year, but is yet to commence, resulting in some councillors recommending that the project be given to someone else.
Councillor Clayton Zana said the expectation was that a state-of-the-art facility would be constructed at Egodini within reasonable time, but it seemed the contractor had reneged.
“An agreement to that effect and on the pertinent issues regarding this development was already in place sealed and igned,” read the latest council minutes.
“The change of goal posts on the part of the company at this stage was undesirable and would be disadvantageous to council, he then suggested that it would be better to retender.”
However, other councillors where of the view that the move by council to retender would be costly to council because the tender process is expensive and it cannot done overnight.
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Councillor Macdonald Chunga said that the multi-million dollar project was a desirable feature in Bulawayo.
He was opposed to retendering, as this alternative would take too long for the project to be realised.
Chunga, therefore, supported the recommendation for further negotiations with the company.
The move to retender was viewed as retrogressive, as it meant that the council would meet other investors for the project.
The local authority, which plans to convert the site into a regional transport hub and shopping complex, awarded a tender to a South African firm, Terraccota Trading (Pty) Ltd last year.
However, the project is yet to take off, with the compensation of sitting tenants being the sticking issue.
The city valuer estimates that compensation is $102 253.