New Era gives printing job to Newsprint

THE printing company owned by Namibia Media Holdings, Newsprint Namibia, got the N$2 million job to print the daily New Era and weekly Kundana newspapers for the next two months.

New Era Corporation chief executive officer Audrin Mathe revealed this in a letter to Newsprint on Monday this week.

Mathe’s letter came after Newsprint Namibia had approached the court challenging New Era Publication Corporation’s decision to print with Max Media Printers, owned by journalist Max Hamata.

Acting judge Collins Parker last Friday ordered New Era Corporation to immediately stop printing with Max Media or any other party, but to procure such services as per provisions of the Public Procurement Act of 2015.

New Era Corporation had this year cancelled two contracts to print the New Era and Kundana publications where Newsprint was the successful bidder.

This contract was awarded to Newsprint in January, and cancelled on 26 February this year after a review and readvertisement in March, only to be cancelled again on 10 April after Max Media had requested for a review of the process.

The tender was never advertised, but New Era Corporation then started printing with Max Media. Newsprint challenged New Era Corporation’s decision in court.

In his letter, Mathe said Newsprint would print their newspapers for two months – 25 June 2018 until 25 August 2018.

“We look forward to obtaining the performance security in the form of a bank guarantee as per the format enclosed herein for an amount of N$199 535,60 (10%), and the enclosed contract duly signed within 20 days from your receipt of this notification. The performance security shall remain valid until 30 days from the completion date of the contract,” he stated.

Mathe added that Newsprint should proceed with the execution of the said contract for the provision of printing services in accordance with the contract documents, and as per their quotation.

“You may also note that failure on your part to sign the contract and submission of the performance security in the prescribed time will constitute sufficient grounds for the cancellation of the award and execution of your bid security declaration,” he said.

Max Media lawyer, Shimwe Mbudje from Mbudje & Brockerhoff Legal Practitioners, argued that New Era Corporation printed its Monday edition without an award, which is in contempt of court.

“Our client’s instructions are that it has noted that your client procured printing services for the and newspapers for 24 June 2018.

This, in our client’s view, is despite and contrary to the express terms of the High Court, dated 22 June 2018,” he said.

Mbudje noted that his client is now contemplating proceedings in terms of rule 74 of the High Court, which allows one to file an application on a notice of motion against whom they deem to have been in contempt of court.

He further demanded information as to with whom New Era Corporation printed its two newspapers, and as to whether this entity was aware of the court order or not.

Mathe declined to comment until the court proceedings are completed.

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