POLICE in Rukwa region are holding two engineers including a Chinese national over delays in the completion of 10bn/- vocational training centre project in Sumbawanga Municipal.
They are acting site engineer, Ding Fubing and consultant engineer, Swalehe Hussein Kyabengwa.
Engineer Fubing is working with main contractor – M/S Tendar International Ltd from China while Kyabengwa is the owner of a consultant firm, Sky Company.
The Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Joyce Ndalichako ordered the duo’s immediate arrest after visiting and inspecting the construction works.
Prof Ndalichako uncovered foul play on the part of main contractor – Tendar International Ltd and Consultant Engineer – including massive breach of contract.
The Vocation Education and Training Authority (VETA) buildings are constructed at Muva area in Sumbwanga municipality, Rukwa region, bankrolled by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The minister expressed dismay having learnt that all key personnel who were listed on the contract were absent from the site without the knowledge of VETA management.
The minister was also informed that Project Manager, Engineer Fei Nie had travelled to his native China for a two month- holiday without notifying government authorities.
Prof Ndalichako discovered further that key players including consultant engineer, project manager and site manager were not staying at the construction site for reasons best known to themselves.
Minister Ndalichako was in Rukwa region for a one day working tour, during which, among other activities she officially launched school quality assurer buildings in Sumbawanga municipality and Matai – a small town in Kalambo District.
Each of the buildings cost over 152m/- and were constructed under Force Account system. On May 4, last year Prof Ndalichako visited the construction of the project and demoted VETA’s South West Zone Director, Justine Rutta over ineffectiveness, including poor supervision.
“Site meeting has no mandate whatsoever for approval of project manager and site manager absenteeism instead it can only recommend to the client which is VETA management… similarly it has no mandate to change the content of contract already signed by the client,” charged a vividly dismayed Prof Ndalichako.
“The two will be detained until they provide clear explanation over the execution of the project including having sufficient workers.
Also, I want clear explanation over 90m/- spent on construction of sub- standard temporary structure here at the site. I’m well informed that you have taken requisite equipment to another construction site in Dodoma …I want them to be returned here,” fumed the minister.
On account of Consultant Eng Kyabengwa, according to the minister, he cheated while floating tender to showcase that he was competent for the job.
“Through our different sources we uncovered that the consultant engineer (Kyabengwa) deceived during the floating of tender that he has a consultant company but he doesn’t as he works as an individual,” stated the minister.
She further noted that the consultant engineer listed in the contract two civil ghost companies that he would jointly work with.
Earlier, Rukwa Regional Commissioner (RC), Joachim Wangabo expressed concerns over the competence of main contractor – Tendar International Ltd, thus, beseeching the minister to take stern action against the contractor including revoking the contract.
On his part the VETA – Director General (DG) Dr Pancras Bujulu said the VETA management was equally unsatisfied with the ineptness of both main contractor – Tendar International Ltd and the consultant engineer.
“We are going to liaise with Attorney General (Dr Adelardus Kilangi) to see the possibility of revoking the contract which is possible,” he said in his speech to the minister.
Dr Bujulu further told the minister that as per the contract, the project should have initially been completed and handed over to the client since September 21, last year.
“Due to various challenges the contractor was given a grace period of 100 days until December 31, last year, yet they could not finish the project.
“So far over 3.5bn/- has been paid to the contractor whose civil work has only reached 52 per cent,” added Dr Bujulu.
He further noted that once the project is accomplished, the centre will have the capacity to accommodate between 1,600 and 2,000 students for short and long –term courses.
