SFB to probe alleged tender scam

The leadership at the School of Finance and Banking (SFB) has said it will look into claims by some students that their guild awarded tenders without following normal tendering procedures. Last week, students alleged that leaders of SFB Association of Students (SFBAS) had awarded tenders to their personal friends. The Rector, Dr Reid Whitlock, said the school will investigate and see whether the students’ claims were authentic. “I don’t stand against the idea of investigating the matter of alleged illegal tendering,” Whitlock said by phone yesterday. The student representatives claim the tendering process is always marred by lack of transparency and fair competition. The controversial tenders include management of both internal and external school canteens, a restaurant, photocopying machines, public phone and a pool table among others. James Shyaka, the former Speaker of the students’ parliament told The New Times last week that he was discontinued from his duties because he had become a stumbling block to those bending the tendering rules. The Rector, however, said Shyaka had committed some mistakes and when he was punished, he started mentioning the tender issues. “He was telling me; why should he be punished yet there other students who had committed serious mistakes (illegal tendering),”the Rector revealed. Shyaka, the Rector added, should carry his own cross. He said the students’ organs had also been told to address the matter. The SFBAS’s executive members had earlier accused Shyaka of engineering the sacking of one, Felicien Kayiranga, head of the tender committee. But Shyaka argued that Kayiranga had been fired by members of the students’ parliament because he had erred when his group awarded tenders before being advertised. On December 28 and 30, SFBAS tender committee met and handed six tenders to contractors. But some tenders were not advertised and simply handed back to the previous holders, a move that riled students. Ends

National

SFB to probe alleged tender scam