Eat n Lick, a well-known fast-food chain, has been exonerated of any wrongdoing in a tender controversy involving the Rural Electrification Fund (REF). The drama began when social media buzzed with claims that the company had landed a lucrative US$600,000 contract for catering services at the Hakwata Power switch-on ceremony. However, the REF has since set the record straight, revealing that the actual contract value is ZWG 603,600 – a far cry from the USD figure that sparked the frenzy.

So, what did Eat n Lick sign up for? The company was tasked with providing catering services for 5,000 community members who gathered to witness the commissioning of the 200Kw Solar Plant in November 2024. The menu included:

– 5,000 slices of bread (because who doesn’t love a good slicer?)
– 5,000 500ml soft drinks (to quench the thirst of the crowd)
– 5,000 500ml mineral water (because hydration is key)

The REF attributed the mix-up in the contract value to a simple clerical error in a public procurement notice, where the tender value was mistakenly listed in USD instead of ZWG. The procurement process was conducted with utmost transparency and in strict compliance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.

In a bid to maintain transparency and accountability, the REF published an advert in the Herald on July 31, 2025, detailing tenders awarded in the 4th Quarter of 2024 and 1st Quarter of 2025. This move demonstrates the REF’s commitment to upholding the provisions of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.

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