By JOHN SAKALA
Konkola Copper Mines plc (KCM) has rebutted claims in some sections of the media that a contract awarded to one of local companies based on the Copperbelt was improperly granted.
KCM had awarded a US $700, 000 job to a company which was newly registered at KCM owned by Copperbelt PF Chairperson Nathan Chanda.
This raised dust and most of the local contractors complained.
But Acting General Manager Corporate Affairs Shapi Shachinda has told The Independent Observer that KCM has a Commercial Department, which superintends over the award of contracts to both local and foreign companies.
Mr Shachinda said contracts are awarded depending on the technical and commercial criteria set out in the company’s procurement procedures.
He said the Commercial Department exercises its sound judgement on contracts before seeking the final approval of the Chief Executive Officer for award of contracts. T
“The Provisional Liquidator does not participate in bid evaluation as insinuated in one of the tabloids. So far, all contracts that have been awarded since the announcement of the liquidation of KCM in May 2019 have been based on the competence of a bidding company. Political party affiliation of the shareholders is not one of our bid adjudication criteria.
“As for the contract awarded for HDPE piping works for the KCM TD5 rehabilitation, a competitive bid process was held where the bidders were scrutinised for technical and financial competence as well as track-record for previous work of a similar nature,” he said.
He said the winning bidder met the criteria set out and was the best evaluated bidder having done similar works at Luanshya Copper Mines and in Kafulafuta.
Mr Shachinda said the bidder had the lowest adjudicated price.
“In the premise, they were the best evaluated bidder. The contract was awarded in an open and competitive bid. Under the company’s policies, any company with financial capacity and technical competence is free to participate and bid for any contract at KCM.
“There has been no appeal from the other bidders against the award, but if there is any evidence of impropriety in the manner of award of the contract, the aggrieved bidder is free to appeal to the Chief Executive Officer,” he said.
