PHILLIMON MHLANGA
The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and a British consultancy firm have inked a deal to procure coronavirus requirements for hospitals in Zimbabwe.
CZI chief executive Sekai Kuvarika said the industry body will work with Crown Agents to expedite procurement as well as ensure the items are procured by experts in the business.
Crown Agents have also been doing consultants work for the government.
It has done Zimbabwe government’s electronic procurement system meant to enhance the State procurement system as well as plug loopholes.
“For all imported items CZI has entered into an arrangement with Crown Agents International who are emergency supply chain specialists and who already have some of the materials in their warehouse for us to draw down from,” Kuvarika said.
“Payments will be made directly to Crown Agents once the costs are finalised by them.”
Kuvarika said local procurement of items will be done through the CZI under the leadership of Vulindlela Ndlovu, the chief executive officer of CIMAS Medical Aid Society.
Funds for local procurement may be paid directly to suppliers or deposited into a CZI account that will be provided upon request and will be audited for the purpose of handling these funds.
CZI is coordinating private sector contributions in collaboration with the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Business Council for Tourism to mobilise resources to fight the deadly coronavirus.
Zimbabwe has so far reported 11 cases and three deaths. President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week appealed for more than US$2bn to fight the pandemic as government alone cannot foot the bill.
Local companies have made contributions worth over US$1m to support the fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic, according to CZI.
It is understood that Tongaat Hulett has availed 300,000 litres of ethanol worth ZWL$8.4m for the production of hand sanitisers.
The company has also set aside ZWL$12m for hospitals refurbishment in Masvingo Province. ProPlastics, DripTech and Megapak will provide tanks and pipes for 10,000 litres mobile water storage at six public hospitals.
TelOne is providing four tank stands to this leg of the initiative. Medical Investments has availed Montagu Clinic, a 22-bed facility to be used as a treatment and isolation centre.
