THE darling of state contracts, Vaino Nghipondoka (photo), and his Chinese partners are lined up for the N$1 billion new offices of the Prime Minister, has learnt.
Nghipondoka’s Babyface Civils teamed up with China Jiangxi International for the N$1 billion tender.
Sources said Nghipondoka and his Chinese partners have been recommended by the works ministry to get the tender despite already being loaded with several other major public works. A decision is set to be made by the National Tender Board today.
Works permanent secretary Willem Goeieman confirmed yesterday that the decision will be made today when the tender board meets. He, however, declined to confirm or deny whether Babyface has been recommended by his ministry.
“Not today, chief. I cannot comment. The only thing I can confirm is that the Tender Board is meeting tomorrow (today). Our recommendations are mere recommendations, ” he noted.
Nghipondoka this week said their tender bid was above board, but declined to comment further.
understands that 18 companies were vetted for security clearance, and that five qualified to the final stage, with Nghipondoka’s outfit costing N$40 million more than the first listed.
State sources said some government officials were against giving the tender to Nghipondoka and his partners because they currently have about N$2 billion worth of government construction tenders, with the cheapest being N$400 million.
Those close to the matter said top officials in the works ministry manipulated for Nghipondoka, a well known middleman, to get the job, allegedly after receiving instructions from some “superiors ” in government.
Other bidders for the Office of the Prime Minister’s tender were Namibia Construction, Chinese firm Jiangsu Zhengtai Construction Group and their Namibian partner Trans Afrique Trading Enterprises, who all came in just above N$1 billion.
China Jiangsu International Group, which partnered Namibian outfit Oshipe Turnkey, asked for N$967 million to do the job.
The Namibian understands that the ministry’s tender committee recommended Oshipe because they were the cheapest and met all criteria, but the national Tender Board rejected the bid because their price was below the 15% benchmark of the budget amount. But other sources have dismissed that argument as a false way to favour Nghipondoka.
Nghipondoka has for the past several years managed to work like a magnet, attracting a diverse portfolio of multi billion dollar government projects that included roads, rail, office building and information technology, with no sign of being overwhelmed.
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