Martin Endjala
The City of Windhoek (CoW) has refuted allegations of awarding a tender worth N$200 million to a company called Pulsar Electronic Solution, after recent media reports that the tender was awarded under dubious circumstances.
In response to media reports, the city’s communication department clarified in a statement issued yesterday, that the claims are unfounded and misleading.
Explaining that Pulsar Electronic Solutions is a startup innovation company located at the Namibia University of Science and Technology’s Fabrication Laboratory, and the company is led by young Namibian researchers who invented and patented the GRIDx electric pre-paid smart meter, which incorporates a WiFi router designed to enable smart metering and internet connectivity through various wireless options.
In order to test the functionality of their product in a real environment, Pulsar Electronic Solutions approached the city’s management for permission to install smart meters at houses with willing participants.
Council agreed to the testing of twenty smart meters, with the possibility of increasing the testing to one hundred meters if the testing on the first twenty yields positive results.
“If the testing of the twenty meters is successful, Pulsar Electronic Solutions has promised to donate the meters to the City of Windhoek free of charge. The City will in turn seek ministerial approval to accept the donation. Being a progressive City that strives to be a sustainable and caring city by 2027, we are alert to the fact that the future is digital and support research in areas that result in improved service delivery to our residents and visitors alike,” reads the statement.
It says that the agreement stems from a memorandum of understanding with the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology, which underscores its commitment to technological advancements, and the city will extend a similar courtesy to any firm with promising and innovative solutions.
“The City of Windhoek encourages the anonymous source(s) behind these allegations to forward any substantiating evidence to the Anti-Corruption Commission. We remain dedicated to operating with utmost transparency and integrity as we uphold the principles of good governance in all our dealings,” the statement says.
