KEETMANSHOOP: The Roads Authority (RA) has extended the validity period of the tender awarding process for the cleaning of rest places and road reserves in the ||Kharas Region.

At the beginning of September, RA selected five bidders for possible awarding of the tender and its validity period set to expire on 14 September 2023. However, documents obtained by Nampa this week from RA, which were sent to all participating bidders, indicate an extension of the validity period to 11 January 2023.

Documents seen by Nampa in September showed that five companies were selected for possible awarding of the N.dollars 5.4 million tender - none of which were from ||Kharas.

Nearly a month ago some small and medium enterprises from the ||Kharas Region staged a peaceful demonstration demanding that RA discontinue the tender awarding process, challenging the selection of companies from other regions while companies from the region also took part in the bidding process.

The group argued that the tender was an entry-level procurement which does not require technical abilities. They questioned the transparency of a selection process that seemingly overlooked companies from their region, despite their contributions through taxes and rates for regional development.

“We pay rates and taxes in this region for developmental purposes and through such opportunities we’re bound to do more, but we are not considered for selection as always,” read their petition.

Approached for comment, RA Corporate Communications Manager, Hileni Fillemon said RA could not provide a response on why the validity period was extended.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency