Chinese firm gets K9.4bn contract to renovate KIS
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture intends to award China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation a K9.4 billion contract to construct an Olympic standard swimming pool and its auxiliaries at Kamuzu Institute for Sports (KIS) in Lilongwe.
A notice from the ministry states that the it wishes to award the contract to the Chinese firm which was among 12 bidders.
“Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture wishes to inform the general public and all the bidders that participated in the tender of Construction of Olympic Standard Swimming Pool and its Auxiliary Structures at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in Lilongwe Reference No. MoY/SWP/01/20 that it has finalised the evaluation process,” reads the notice.
Bid documents which we have seen indicate that China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation was the third lowest bidder after Malbro’s which was at K7.7 billion and Wahkong which was at K8.6 billion.
DEC’s bid was the highest at K14.2 billion followed by Delta’s at K12.9 billion and Paramount’s at K11.7 billion.
Manobec’s bid was at K11. 6 billion, Huang Jiang’s was at K10.8 billion, Dika K10.4 billion, China Railway’s was also at K10.4 billion while Synohdro’s was at K9.7 billion.
Apart from the construction of a 50-metre international swimming pool, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation will also construct a 25-metre training swimming pool.
The project will also involve construction of new covered stands, rehabilitation of existing stands, construction of adouble storey VIP wing, a social service block, a gym and conference hall.
China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation will also construct a block wall fence, gate houses, turnstile entrance, water tower and some mechanical and electrical works.
Commenting on the cost of the project, which some quarters felt was on the high side, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Ulemu Msungama said it is worth it since the sports complex will be of international standard.
He said: “What we are constructing is a world class arena that will not only create a platform for Malawian athletes, but will also create jobs and opportunities for a lot of people. What one needs to immediately appreciate is that the project has been designed to international standards as it stands to host international competitions starting with the All-Africa Championship.
“This means that the design specifications are to meet international standards at all costs. That, on its own, means the project will not be cheap.”
“A snapshot of the scope would provide further understanding; the complex will have two swimming pools, one 25-metre and the other 50-metre designed for training and competitions respectively. The pools are only five percent of the contract sum.
“The complex will have a gym for the athletes, this is another five percent of the contract. The complex will have stands around the swimming pool that allows spectators, this includes complete changing rooms, conference rooms and a VIP section, this is about 25 percent of the contract. The complex will also have a social services centre which takes about five percent of the contract.”
Msungama added: “Another significant cost is the mechanical and electrical fittings of the complex to support the infrastructure that will be placed; this includes the roofing designs etc which is costing 15 percent of the contract.
“Last but not least, there will be need to have massive earthworks on the location to prepare it for the said infrastructure, not to mention roads and pavements which also are 15 percent of the cost. This all in a nutshell gives an idea where the K9 billion cost comes from.”
The Chinese company’s officials refused to comment on the matter since government has not yet awarded them the contract, but only issued an intention to do so.
KIS got a lion’s share in Ministry of Youth and Sports 2020/21 budget allocation after being allocated K1 billion for the rehabilitation.
The institute, located in Kawale, Lilongwe, is set to host 2022 African Union Region 5 Games.
