Times Of Swaziland: NEMBEZA WINS E9.8M ESWADE TENDER NEMBEZA WINS E9.8M ESWADE TENDER ================================================================================ BY KWANELE DHLADHLA on 04/12/2019 01:17:00 MBABANE – Nembeza Construction (Pty) Ltd has been enlisted as the best evaluated tenderer which stands to be granted a buildning job E9.8 million by ESWADE. Tender results issued by Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA) reflect that the company scored 97 per cent during the tender evaluation exercise undertaken in accordance with the Public Procurement Act of 2011. The tender was for the construction of offices at Ndzevane for the second phase of the Lower Usuthu Smallholder Irrigation Programme (LUSIP) which is managed by Eswatini Water and Development Enterprise (ESWADE) led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Samson Sithole. It was reported that the company was competing with the Seno Construction, Ultra Civils (Pty) Ltd and Touch Hygiene. All these companies qualified to be granted the multimillion job but their bids were considered high by the approvals authority. The only company which was disqualified was Sandza Construction. It was reported that the company did not meet the minimum technical score. It should be noted that ESPPRA advised that a period of 10 working days would be allowed for the submission of any application for review from the tenderers. β€œThe contract award decision does not constitute a contract,” advised ESPPRA. Following on the LUSIP I project, which had the objective of storing water to enable year-round agricultural production, LUSIP II will enlarge the available irrigated farmland for local smallholders. LUSIP is a climate adaptation initiative to alleviate poverty and improve food security through sustainable agriculture in Lowveld, one of the driest and poorest areas of land-locked Eswatini, where over 70 per cent of the population relies on subsistence farming and one in three people are undernourished. The project is based on an integrated bottom-up approach of social and economic empowerment through project identification, preparation and implementation, supporting the introduction of commercial farming in the area. LUSIP II will directly benefit about 2 300 smallholder households and 1 000 people, with a further 10 000 indirectly benefitting through connected activities. Through the provision of irrigation services, LUSIP II will provide a strong boost to the agricultural economy and expected to have considerable spillovers on job creation, private sector development, health conditions, as well as on environmental protection through decreased land degradation. Sugar cane cultivation will cover a maximum of 70 per cent of the irrigated area, while at least 30 per cent of the irrigated area shall be allocated to other food and cash crops. LUSIP II is fully aligned with the EU National Indicative Programme (NIP) for 2014 – 2020 which singles out agriculture as one of the two key focal areas of intervention, with a view to addressing existing challenges and promoting sound agricultural practices, eradicate food insecurity, and contributing to sustainable economic growth.