Havana school project caught in contractors’ payment disputes
Penatu accused of ‘grand-scale exploitation’
The four subcontractors want to know how much money Penatu is receiving from August Twenty-Six, the company that won the bid originally.
Four companies subcontracted by Penatu Trading CC to construct Havana Primary School in Katutura have accused the company of grand-scale exploitation, saying the true value of their work is not reflected in payments they are receiving.
Penatu – owned by Frans Munkhata Kamenye - was itself subcontracted by Namibian Defence Force (NDF) company August Twenty-Six, which won the actual tender.
The four companies are Wellma Katana Iitula’s Wellma CC, Matias Pinehas’ Shinana Trading CC, Isaskar Ndeshipanda Alweendo’s Papa Issy Trading CC and Luckas Ndipwashimwe’s Onanghwe Construction.
Entered into in December 2023, their contracts were for the construction of four classroom blocks at the school.
The four entities have since complained that there are huge disparities between the value of their work, and what they are being paid.
According to them, they reached a verbal agreement with Penatu that they would be paid approximately N$70 000 per block. “We came looking for work and [Penatu site manager Leonard] Banda said no one will get paid above N$100 000. We had no choice but to take the offer as we needed the money, but it is truly not enough,” the companies told Namibian Sun.
“We need August Twenty-Six and the education ministry to tell us the exact amount paid to Penatu for the construction of this school.”
They added that the inadequate payment has hindered their ability to compensate their employees. “We have about 11 employees each. They don’t believe it when we tell them about the situation. They think we are trying to rip them off,” one of the subcontractors said.
No building materials
The subcontractors said they were forced to halt construction when they ran out of building materials in January.
“We have been coming here every day since February in hopes of finding materials, so we finish up the buildings, but to no avail. We need to go look for other projects to pay our bills.”
When approached for comment, Banda said it would be breach of protocol if he spoke to the media.
Meanwhile, August Twenty-Six managing director Martha Endjala said they would be happy to hear from the subcontractors directly.
“We have been emphasising to labourers on the ground that those aggrieved who feel like they are not treated well on sites should reach out to our office first to present their grievances rather than running to social media. This is a good step in solving problems amicably,” she said.
Only bricklayers
Kamenye refuted allegations of exploitation, saying the four companies provided quotations and are being paid in accordance with the agreed fees.
He added that he brought the entities on board at the request of Moses //Garoëb constituency councillor Stefanus Ndengu, who insisted that locals be involved in the project. “We subcontracted them as bricklayers and gave them the necessary equipment for digging the trenches and mixing the concrete. All they did was show up,” he said.
On the depleted building materials, he added: “They should just wait”.
The subcontractors said their cries for redress, made to Ndengu since January, have fallen on deaf ears.
Penatu – owned by Frans Munkhata Kamenye - was itself subcontracted by Namibian Defence Force (NDF) company August Twenty-Six, which won the actual tender.
The four companies are Wellma Katana Iitula’s Wellma CC, Matias Pinehas’ Shinana Trading CC, Isaskar Ndeshipanda Alweendo’s Papa Issy Trading CC and Luckas Ndipwashimwe’s Onanghwe Construction.
Entered into in December 2023, their contracts were for the construction of four classroom blocks at the school.
The four entities have since complained that there are huge disparities between the value of their work, and what they are being paid.
According to them, they reached a verbal agreement with Penatu that they would be paid approximately N$70 000 per block. “We came looking for work and [Penatu site manager Leonard] Banda said no one will get paid above N$100 000. We had no choice but to take the offer as we needed the money, but it is truly not enough,” the companies told Namibian Sun.
“We need August Twenty-Six and the education ministry to tell us the exact amount paid to Penatu for the construction of this school.”
They added that the inadequate payment has hindered their ability to compensate their employees. “We have about 11 employees each. They don’t believe it when we tell them about the situation. They think we are trying to rip them off,” one of the subcontractors said.
No building materials
The subcontractors said they were forced to halt construction when they ran out of building materials in January.
“We have been coming here every day since February in hopes of finding materials, so we finish up the buildings, but to no avail. We need to go look for other projects to pay our bills.”
When approached for comment, Banda said it would be breach of protocol if he spoke to the media.
Meanwhile, August Twenty-Six managing director Martha Endjala said they would be happy to hear from the subcontractors directly.
“We have been emphasising to labourers on the ground that those aggrieved who feel like they are not treated well on sites should reach out to our office first to present their grievances rather than running to social media. This is a good step in solving problems amicably,” she said.
Only bricklayers
Kamenye refuted allegations of exploitation, saying the four companies provided quotations and are being paid in accordance with the agreed fees.
He added that he brought the entities on board at the request of Moses //Garoëb constituency councillor Stefanus Ndengu, who insisted that locals be involved in the project. “We subcontracted them as bricklayers and gave them the necessary equipment for digging the trenches and mixing the concrete. All they did was show up,” he said.
On the depleted building materials, he added: “They should just wait”.
The subcontractors said their cries for redress, made to Ndengu since January, have fallen on deaf ears.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article