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Sukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
CASH-strapped Gweru City Council has threatened to cancel a $300 000 tender for a refuse truck it awarded Denver Engineering after the latter demanded a further $36 000 for the supply of a refuse collection truck.

Addressing a full council meeting on Thursday last week at town house, acting town clerk Mr Douglas Vakai Chikwekwe said the South African-based company, Denver Engineering was awarded the tender in November 2016 to supply the council with a refuse truck, but it has not been delivered.

“We awarded Denver Engineering a tender to supply us with a refuse truck in November 2016. Since then, the company hasn’t given us the truck, but we had paid for it in full.

“We only learnt recently that the truck, which they want to supply, is an old model and we demanded a modern version and they said we must pay a top-up of $36 000. We have no option, but to cancel the tender,” said Mr Chikwekwe.

He said council was broke and could not afford to pay more money for the refuse truck.

“We don’t have such an amount of money and right now, our only option is to cancel the tender. These people have wasted our time and we can’t afford any further payments,” said Mr Chikwekwe.

In 2016, the local authority awarded tenders for the supply of earth moving equipment to Southern Region Trading, Rubitech, Panhard and Denver Engineering.

The earth moving equipment was supposed to help improve service delivery.

Mayor councillor Charles Chikozho said they were looking at engaging private contractors in every suburb to assist council with refuse collection.

He said those with private trucks, at least five tonne, can apply to council so that they collect refuse in their respective suburbs and deposit it at the council’s dumpsite.