Maravi

(HERALD ZW) Level tender playing field

Level tender playing field
Friday, 12 October 2012 00:00
Robert Garai Muganda Buy Zimbabwe

THE issue of local companies continuously losing out on State tenders is beginning to sound like a broken record. Over and over again we hear that this and that local company has lost a bid to a foreign alternative and this will definitely impact on any efforts to rebuild our economy. The question that we should be asking ourselves is are we doing ourselves any favour by awarding these tenders to foreigners or local fronts for foreign producers?

Recently, the local motor industry was devastated by the loss of a US$6,6 million tender to commodity brokers fronting for foreign firms. The tender was for the supply of 100 4x2 one-tonne diesel trucks, 100 4x4 one-tonne diesel trucks and 93 4x2 one-tonne petrol trucks.

Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries managing director Engineer Dawson Mareya said the challenge with the continued loss of tenders is that it cripples the industry’s ability to plan for the development of the sector.

It has also forced potential investors to shy away from investings into the sector.

Having been to the Quest Motor Corporation plant in Mutare one prays that the multimillion-dollar investment spent on jigs and other machinery does not go to waste because of a serious lack of support.

The disturbing thing is that the specifications of the supplied vehicles in the last tender lost by local motor industry are well within the scope of our two leading car assembly plants. This had led me to ask three questions.

l How does one afford to sleep at night knowing that they have exported taxpayer’s money to another country to buy such an order when these vehicles are available in the country?

Here I was thinking that taxpayer’s money was meant to develop the country’s infrastructure rather than support the expensive tastes of a few individuals.

It is surprising to see the State Procurement Board supporting commodity brokers who have no infrastructure at the expense of manufacturer.

l How does one find sleep at night knowing that over 600 employees in the motor industry have to take a break from work because there is no production happening in the sector?

Here I was thinking that every Zimbabwean was committed to fighting the highly unsustainable unemployment rate that has seen even our educated brothers and sisters roam the streets aimlessly.

l How does one sleep at night after hearing our neighbours brag about the high level of industrial development in their respective countries?
Here I was thinking that as Zimbabweans we are a proud lot who would die to see their economy spring back into action.

I have been led to believe in the importance of pride, wealth and jobs and I believe that a lot more Zimbabweans share this same belief.
If this is the case then maybe it is time we demand accountability each time public funds are involved.

Buy Zimbabwe has been advised that the difference between the price charged by Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries for the supply of 93 4 x 2 one-tonne petrol trucks and the cost of vehicles supplied by the commodity broker was only US$4 000.

This does not even consider the fact that despite a preferential tender awarded to the lowest bidder in terms of Section 21 of the Procurement Regulations 2002, local companies also enjoy a 10 percent price advantage in any tender.

The question is why was this not considered with the vehicle tender in this case?

Are we saying that WMMI did not have stocks? The answer is no.
As I write Mazda has stock of over 200 different models in their yard.

In any case, any company wishing to buy through the State Procurement Board is directed to get a waiver from the President’s Office to procure outside Zimbabwe. This generally looks like it has been ignored.

Engineer Mareya says despite numerous tenders being floated they have only signed two waivers giving the procuring entity the go-ahead to buy vehicles outside the country.

It seems like we are clandestinely ignoring a Presidential directive to our own peril. We continue to sell our souls but worst of all we are selling our own jobs!

Just looking at the money that the local motoring industry has lost in the year-to-date is enough to turn one’s stomach.

In July, 2012 150 single-cab pick-up trucks were bought from outside on behalf of CMED and 263 3L double cabs were bought for the Zimbabwe National Army. These are just some of the disturbing figures this country has to deal with.

As part of the search for a solution, I believe the local motor industry can benefit tremendously from adopting the collective approach. The vices affecting the industry need to be attacked head strong.

Till next week . . . God Bless.

Robert Garai Muganda is the General Manager Media and Communications for Buy Zimbabwe. He can be contacted on: email: robert@buyzimbabwe.org.zw mobile: 0772714233; Facebook: buy zimbabwe campaign

Labels: PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS

posted by MrK @ 3:02 PM