Citizens are concerned that since the announcement of the 285 yellow machines more than ten months ago, nothing has been heard from the Government of Liberia. As a result, Senator Numene Bartekwa at a Press Conference in late January questioned what is going on with the completion of the purchase.
It can be recalled that President Joseph N. Boakai said that South African businessman and Pan Africanist, Robert Gumede of GM Earthmoving Equipment, principal owner of Guma Group, a diversified afro-global conglomerate with operations on several continents, had proposed to finance, deliver, and maintain the 285 yellow machines to upgrade and maintain the country’s road network.
After the announcement, skeptics from the opposition and civil society began to question the structure of the deal: pricing structure, financing terms, maintenance, warranty, and ability of GM Earthmoving Equipment to deliver on its promises.
Gumede, with support of the South African Embassy near Monrovia, has sought to allay the skeptics by providing ample evidence of the group’s ability to perform. However, despite the assurances and documented explanations, the purchase of the 285 yellow machine remains shrouded in mystery.
It is evident that some local heavy duty equipment suppliers have injected themselves into the fray by using powerful politicians to prevent the purchase from GM Earthmoving Equipment.
Sources hinted this paper that a review of local suppliers indicates a challenge in getting them with global equipment manufacturers that can provide solid aftermarket services such as long-term warranties, as GM Earthmoving is providing up to 15 years, original equipment market spare parts, training, AI advanced technical support and sustainability.
Moreover, the South African company has indicated it does not intend to compete with local suppliers that can match their offer and that all procurement laws of the country must be followed.
It is 10 months since the announcement and only three months before the heavy rains start in May without a defined position of the Government of Liberia on moving forward with the purchase of road building equipment.
In the wake of this lackluster behavior of the Boakai’s administration, there is mounting concern among citizens, that the government may lose two years due to inertia and lack of robustness in the country’s road upgrading and maintenance program.
“Due to the hardship in the outward counties on account of limited road connectivity and in some instances where regions are completely cut off by road from the rest of the country, it behooves the government of Liberia to accelerate the process to complete the purchases, instead of being silent on the status of the machines,” a source closed to the yellow machine arrangement said.
