China’s Star Software Technologies has appealed a decision by the Zambian government to cancel a digital migration tender in the country.
The Zambian government cancelled the $220 million tender two weeks ago for the supply, delivery and commissioning of national digital terrestrial broadcasting system amid allegations of corruption regarding the awarding of the tender.
But Star Software Technologies has called for the cancellation of the tender to be reversed.
And in its appeal, the Chinese firm argues that it is the ‘best company’ to implement the digital migration project in Zambia.
The company has further placed advertisements in local media appealing for the cancellation to be reversed because they are a “good” company.
But despite the appeal by the company, the Zambian government says the tender remains cancelled.
Zambia’s ministry of information and broadcasting services permanent secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba, said the tender was cancelled on advice from the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), and that the decision was final.
Also, in a twist of events and contrary to reports, Mwamba added that no tender for the digital migration project was even awarded to Star Software Technologies.
“What the good people of Zambia need to know is that no tender was awarded to Star Software Technologies or any other company for that matter,” Mwamba said.
“Star Software Technologies were simply a preferred bidder, not the final tender winner. There has never been a winner for the tender in question and the ministry is trying to work within the law going forward,” Mwamba added.
Nevertheless, Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched investigations into the irregularities that forced the tender to be cancelled.
In order to beat a 2015 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) digital broadcast deadline, the Zambian government has said the tender is planned to be unbundled into four lots and given to different companies for implementation.
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