The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
TWO former Bulawayo mayors who, during their time at the helm of the local authority, handled the Egodini bus terminus tender have called on the South Africa-based developer Tearracotta Private Limited not to hold BCC to ransom over the much anticipated project.
The project was awarded to Tearracotta in October 2012 and has had a number of false starts since then.
Two weeks ago the developer gave another, of many, possible deadlines for the completion of phase 1A, stating they expected to have completed this phase by October 2021.
This also came at a time when both Tearracotta and BCC, were singing opposing tunes on how much the South Africa-based developer had committed to invest in the project.
To date, the project has seen three mayors handle it, since October 2012, Alderman Thaba Moyo was at the helm of the local authority when it was first awarded, Alderman Martin Moyo took over the project in 2013 until the end of his tenure in 2018 after which the current mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni is the man in charge in the council chambers.
In an interview both Aldermen Thaba Moyo and Martin Moyo expressed disappointment at the failure by Tearracotta to stick to the time frames they had committed to when they initially signed the contract to renovate the terminus.
Ald Thaba Moyo said it was high time council officials revisited the contract the two entities signed and put into effect protective clauses that were included regarding the time frame of the project.
He said what had to be considered was that Egodini did not belong to Tearracotta but belonged to the residents of Bulawayo, with BCC being tasked with its administration.
“When Tearracotta were given the task to renovate Egodini there was a time frame which we all stated and they agreed to stick to it. In every contract there is always a clause stating that if the project is not done at the set period how council can then handle the issue.
“Such stipulations are standard and if both Tearracotta and council officials are honest that stipulation is signed in black and white, it is high time we revisit that clause. Further, this issue is not about Tearracotta but about council themselves, if they want to rectify this they can do this in the click of a button,” said Ald Thaba Moyo.
The former Mayor said the local authority was acting as if Tearracotta was the only organisation which could work on the project.
“There are a lot of companies that can do that project therefore Tearracotta should stop holding everyone to ransom, acting as if they are the only ones who can do that project, people want that project as of yesterday because as it is there is congestion in the Central Business District as vendors and transport operators are operating at makeshift sites,” said Ald Thaba Moyo.
Ald Martin Moyo echoed his predecessor’s sentiments saying council officials, especially the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube should now invoke clauses within the contract that were inserted so as to handle a situation where the developer fails to deliver the project on time.
“The Town Clerk, at any given time, must be in a position to protect the local authority’s interests, in this case there must be full adherence to the set contract enforcement processes.
“At times I know that when there is a problem between the local authority and the developer, council usually avoids the courts because it becomes a long process.
“However, regarding Egodini according to the timelines we endorsed that structure should be now on its second phase but shockingly they are still talking of phase 1A, which has not even been started,” said Ald Martin Moyo.
According to a council report Phase 1A of the project will include the construction of 1 100 informal traders’ stalls, a 100-bay taxi rank, security wall, security tower, motor retail, taxi associations offices, public ablutions and a service lane. Phase 1B includes the construction of the bus terminus building, fast-food shops and the grocery anchor.
The initial tender for the re-development of the terminus was advertised and closed on 25 June 2012, the compulsory tender briefing was held on 5 July with 14 companies attending.
The pre-adjudication inter-departmental meeting was held on 11 September 2012 to consider the submissions, where Terracotta was awarded the tender.
The company was also awarded a 99-year lease to the terminus.
