BULAWAYO city councillors have demanded an audit on Barbourfields Kiosk VIP Lounge tender winner Nkululeko Ndlovu, who is accused of being in breach of the lease agreement.
by NQOBILE BHEBHE
Ndlovu is said to have rushed to rope in his lawyers instead of complying with council regulations, when the issue of being in breach was put to him.
In June 2014, council called for tenders for the reopening of 80 closed shops and unoccupied factory shells in the city, including the hospitality lounge at Barbourfields Stadium.
Council intended to revive two hospitality lounges, including the VIP Lounge at Barbourfields and six kiosks within the stadium. The hospitality sections were not fully operational.
Ndlovu is now accused of “trading in unauthorised items at the kiosk”.
Councillors felt that the audit section should institute investigations.
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Reads part of council finance and development committee report: “Barbourfields Kiosk VIP Lounge: Nkululeko Ndlovu — item 16: The matter was considered and councillor J Sithole observed that the lessee was deliberately in breach of the lease agreement.
“Instead of responding to council’s non-compliance letter, he had instead approached his lawyers. Why? Perhaps there were personal issues with some Bulawayo City Council officials.”
Added the report: “In view of this, he suggested that council’s audit section be authorised to investigate the matter and advise accordingly. Thereafter, an informed decision could be taken on the matter.”
Cowdray Park councillor Collet Ndhlovu also supported claims that Ndolvu had breached the lease agreement.
“The issue should be handled in terms of the lease agreement. Failure to implement the conditions of the lease agreement would create an undesirable precedent in terms of which other beneficiaries would disregard council regulations.
Councillors Lot Siziba and Ephraim Ncube concurred, saying that the beneficiary was trading in unauthorised items at the kiosk and should be dealt with as appropriate.
However, this is not the first time that council has been sucked into a tender row.
In 2014, Southern Eye reported that a tenderer for a butchery, who failed to produce requisite documents, was awarded the tender ahead of other contenders who seemed to have better prospects.
According to council documents gleaned by Southern Eye at the time, the awarding of two leases to two shops in Mzilikazi and Nguboyenja irked several councillors as winners were linked to councillors, who hold influential positions within the opposition MDC-T Bulawayo province.
A butchery, stand number 303/115, received an overwhelming response and 62 people were shortlisted for interviews, with only half attending.
The reports revealed that one bidder (name supplied) failed to produce a bank statement.
The shop attracts monthly rentals of $70, but he offered $150.
The report indicated that several bidders had substantial herd of cattle ranging from 30 to 150 with proof of ownership, bank statements reflecting thousands of dollars, offering up to $550 monthly rentals, butchery equipment and detailed employment plans.
However, the interviewing panel settled for the bidder with the lowest offer in rentals.
