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Cleaning firm sues CAAZ for over $144 000

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A LOCAL company, Sterile System Hygienic Services, has taken the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) to court demanding over $144 000 in damages for breach of a cleaning contract at Harare International Airport.

A LOCAL company, Sterile System Hygienic Services, has taken the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) to court demanding over $144 000 in damages for breach of a cleaning contract at Harare International Airport.

BY CHARLES LAITON

According to the summons issued under case number HC1278/13, CAAZ engaged Sterile Systems to provide cleaning services at Harare International Airport after the firm had applied for the tender to clean all the country’s three international airports.

The tender, which was awarded sometime in September 2012, was managed by the State Procurement Board (SPB) at the request of CAAZ.

However, Sterile Systems’s contract was allegedly terminated by CAAZ after a month under unclear circumstances.

“On September 10, 2012, plaintiff (Sterile Systems) received a letter from 2nd defendant (SPB) advising them that by virtue of PBR 1474, plaintiff had been awarded the tender to provide cleaning services at the 1st defendant’s (CAAZ) premises at the Harare

International Airport only. The tender was of $20 100 per month,” the firm said.

“On the strength of (the confirmation letter), plaintiff incurred tremendous expenses in start-up costs in preparation of commencing operations.

“The plaintiff also took necessary steps to ensure that it purchased all the necessary equipment required in the day-to-day operations in rendering its services to the 1st defendant. The expenses add up to a total of $51 772, 79.”

On December 31, 2012, it is alleged, CAAZ, wrote to Sterile Systems advising them to commence operations on January 1, 2013 until December 31 of the same year.

But nine days after commencing operations, the firm received a letter from CAAZ advising them to suspend operations.

“Defendant wrote to plaintiff advising them to suspend operations until plaintiff’s workers had been cleared by police on security grounds and until a contract was signed between the parties,” the firm said.

Sterile Systems said it complied with CAAZ’s requirements and on January 11, 2013, wrote to the aviation authority requesting for a date on which it was supposed to resume cleaning operations.

However, to the firm’s surprise, it later learnt that as at January 10, 2013, CAAZ had engaged another service provider at the airport.