RA replaces local contractor with Chinese firm due to 'non-performance'
The Roads Authority (RA) has engaged China Henan International Cooperation Group (Chico) to take over the construction of the Nkurenkuru-Nepara road following alleged poor performance by the previous local contractor, who had asked to be released from the project.
RA’s regional engineering manager Kennedy Chigumira confirmed this development during a recent meeting with the Kavango West Regional Council in Rundu, expressing confidence that Chico would complete the project efficiently and on time.
The project, which kicked off over a year ago, has reportedly experienced prolonged delays under local contractor West Trading CC.
Phase one, involving the upgrade of a 10-kilometre stretch of road from gravel to low-volume seal, was initially scheduled for completion within 10 months but remains unfinished.
The contract, valued at N$29 million, has now been handed to Chico, with a new six-month timeline for completion.
Chigumira noted that West Trading was awarded the project as part of an effort to empower local firms, but their failure was evident.
"The painful thing is that we wanted to empower our own, but sometimes they just don’t deliver. You’ve seen it yourselves – it was like a circus," he said.
Progress delays
Namibian Sun has seen a letter from West Trading to RA, asking to be released from the project due to financial issues.
“[West Trading] herewith admits the contract is frustrated due to financial reasons as communicated by the contractor in the project progress report,” West Trading director Samuel Kashokulu said in a letter to RA dated 30 October 2024.
However, on 17 December, RA CEO Conrad Lutombi wrote to West Trading, saying: “We regret to inform you that the Roads Authority hereby terminates your contract with immediate effect due to non-performance... You are hereby requested to stop work immediately, make the site safe and secure, and leave the site as soon as possible.”
Namibian Sun previously reported that Lutombi had warned West Trading that it had until November 2024 to demonstrate progress, or risk having its contract terminated.
The road linking Nepara to Nkurenkuru is a vital link to the regional trunk road connecting Kavango West and East to the Trans-Zambezi Corridor and other northern regions.
During a working visit to Kavango West late last year, Deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa was briefed by Lutombi on the project’s slow progress.
Lutombi reiterated that multiple engagements with the contractor had failed to yield results, leading to the issuance of a final warning in November.
Outside factors
Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Kashokulu denied that poor performance was the reason for the contract termination.
He insisted that external interference and community outrage were among the factors contributing to the project’s delays.
"This matter is currently with our lawyers, and false information has been spread. To tell you the truth, this project has been targeted from the beginning. We were appointed, but the project was originally tailor-made for someone else,” he said.
“Fortunately, due to the integrity of some people within RA, we got the project. But because of that, we have been targeted since day one. Our project was only delayed by three weeks, and part of that delay was caused by the community itself. We had issues with the border, where we source materials, and last year was particularly difficult because of the elections," he explained.
On why his company had moved to self-terminate the contract, Kashokulu said: "We had several meetings with the Roads Authority, and after extensive discussions, we realised that we were already making a huge loss. Our contract was supposed to end in March of this year, but by October, only five months into the project, we saw that continuing was unsustainable.”
He added: “We compiled a detailed report proving our financial losses and presented it to the client. After three or four meetings, we explained our frustrations and requested a review of the contract terms and rates to make the project viable. However, they had no interest in assisting us."
No access
Communities in Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi have long decried a lack of proper road infrastructure, accusing the government of neglect. A report by the standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing, following oversight visits between September 2022 and August 2023, highlighted these concerns.
Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku, who addressed the committee at the time, highlighted the dire state of roads in the region, particularly the slow progress on the Charlie Cutline Road, which is crucial for local connectivity. She also stressed the urgent need for feeder roads to improve accessibility.
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RA’s regional engineering manager Kennedy Chigumira confirmed this development during a recent meeting with the Kavango West Regional Council in Rundu, expressing confidence that Chico would complete the project efficiently and on time.
The project, which kicked off over a year ago, has reportedly experienced prolonged delays under local contractor West Trading CC.
Phase one, involving the upgrade of a 10-kilometre stretch of road from gravel to low-volume seal, was initially scheduled for completion within 10 months but remains unfinished.
The contract, valued at N$29 million, has now been handed to Chico, with a new six-month timeline for completion.
Chigumira noted that West Trading was awarded the project as part of an effort to empower local firms, but their failure was evident.
"The painful thing is that we wanted to empower our own, but sometimes they just don’t deliver. You’ve seen it yourselves – it was like a circus," he said.
Progress delays
Namibian Sun has seen a letter from West Trading to RA, asking to be released from the project due to financial issues.
“[West Trading] herewith admits the contract is frustrated due to financial reasons as communicated by the contractor in the project progress report,” West Trading director Samuel Kashokulu said in a letter to RA dated 30 October 2024.
However, on 17 December, RA CEO Conrad Lutombi wrote to West Trading, saying: “We regret to inform you that the Roads Authority hereby terminates your contract with immediate effect due to non-performance... You are hereby requested to stop work immediately, make the site safe and secure, and leave the site as soon as possible.”
Namibian Sun previously reported that Lutombi had warned West Trading that it had until November 2024 to demonstrate progress, or risk having its contract terminated.
The road linking Nepara to Nkurenkuru is a vital link to the regional trunk road connecting Kavango West and East to the Trans-Zambezi Corridor and other northern regions.
During a working visit to Kavango West late last year, Deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa was briefed by Lutombi on the project’s slow progress.
Lutombi reiterated that multiple engagements with the contractor had failed to yield results, leading to the issuance of a final warning in November.
Outside factors
Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Kashokulu denied that poor performance was the reason for the contract termination.
He insisted that external interference and community outrage were among the factors contributing to the project’s delays.
"This matter is currently with our lawyers, and false information has been spread. To tell you the truth, this project has been targeted from the beginning. We were appointed, but the project was originally tailor-made for someone else,” he said.
“Fortunately, due to the integrity of some people within RA, we got the project. But because of that, we have been targeted since day one. Our project was only delayed by three weeks, and part of that delay was caused by the community itself. We had issues with the border, where we source materials, and last year was particularly difficult because of the elections," he explained.
On why his company had moved to self-terminate the contract, Kashokulu said: "We had several meetings with the Roads Authority, and after extensive discussions, we realised that we were already making a huge loss. Our contract was supposed to end in March of this year, but by October, only five months into the project, we saw that continuing was unsustainable.”
He added: “We compiled a detailed report proving our financial losses and presented it to the client. After three or four meetings, we explained our frustrations and requested a review of the contract terms and rates to make the project viable. However, they had no interest in assisting us."
No access
Communities in Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi have long decried a lack of proper road infrastructure, accusing the government of neglect. A report by the standing committee on transport, infrastructure and housing, following oversight visits between September 2022 and August 2023, highlighted these concerns.
Kavango West governor Sirkka Ausiku, who addressed the committee at the time, highlighted the dire state of roads in the region, particularly the slow progress on the Charlie Cutline Road, which is crucial for local connectivity. She also stressed the urgent need for feeder roads to improve accessibility.
[email protected]
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