Confusion has erupted between the Zambian government and Star Software Technology Company of China over the awarding of a tender for the country's digital migration project.

According to a statement issued by Star Software Technologies the contract for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of Zambia's digital migration is worth about $220 million.

Star Software Technologies Company chairperson Pang Xing Sing described the awarding of the tender as one that was setting the pace to accelerate Zambia’s digital migration process by the stipulated deadline of 2015.

Pang said the fact that his company has built six uplink stations, 65 transmission stations and two digital TV play-out centres in Africa gave it greatest confidence of successful implementing terrestrial digital migration in Zambia.

He said the company has launched digital TV operation services in Rwanda, Nigeria, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Central African Republic.

But the Zambian government has denied awarding the contract to the Chinese company saying it was just a preferred bidder.

The ministry of Information and Broadcasting has reacted angrily to the claim by Star Software Technologies and described the company’s conduct as misleading, unprofessional and uncalled for.

The ministry’s permanent secretary Amos Malupenga explained at a press briefing yesterday that Star Software Technologies has only been selected as a preferred bidder to be awarded the contract subject to meeting all the conditions stipulated in the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) Act.

“After the closure of receiving bids, a ministerial committee met to evaluate all the bids that were submitted and settled for Star Software Technologies Company Limited as a prefered bidder. No tender has been awarded at this stage,” Malupenga said.

Therefore, Malupenga said he does not understand the intentions of Star Software Technologies Company to issue a statement to the media when they know too well that the ministry can only award them a contract after the ministry of Justice under the office of the Attorney General had done its work.

Malupenga added that all the bidders were informed last month about the Zambian government’s decision to settle for Star Software Technologies Company as a prefered bidder only because the tender process was ongoing.

Malupenga said the Zambian government has given other bidders that were not picked the right to appeal within 10 days after the publishing of the notice.

He said two companies had so far appealed against the decision not to pick them and that the government was still waiting for the third appeal before the close of the business day yesterday.

Five Chinese companies including ZTE and Huawei Technologies bid for the tender.