By Jane Mlambo| Sakunda Holdings is investing ZWL30 million grant to tertiary institutions for research and development in the area of COVID-19 which has killed thousands of people across the globe.
The grant will cover the next six months at various universities chosen by Government.
This gesture comes at a time when the world is hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic with scientists looking for appropriate vaccines to end this ravaging pademic.
The investment in research and development by Sakunda Holdings dovetails with what its Chief Executive Officer Kudakwashe Tagwirei told the inaugural World Economic Forum’s Africa Regional Action Group virtual meeting that there is need for governments to invest heavily in research and development.
Kudakwashe Tagwirei is a member of the World Economic Forum and is a committee member of the Africa Regional Action Group which is a grouping of over 50 Chief executive officers in the continent.
The virtual meeting was attended by Botswan President Mokgweetsi Masisi, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Executive Secretary Vera Songwe, Sakunda Holdings Chief Executive Officer and Founder Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei, AngloGold Ashanti Chairman Sipho Pityana, Absa Group Chief Executive Officer Daniel Mminele, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director John Nkengasong, Equatorial Guinea Minister of Finance, Economy and Planning Cesar Augusto Mba Abogo among other successful people in the continent.
On donating the ZWL30 million at statehouse Tagwirei said this is critical in offering scientific research in finding lasting solutions to COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sakunda Holdings is also facilitating a ZWL30 million grant at ZWL5 million monthly for six months which will be available to universities of Government’s choice for research and development in the area of COVID-19,” said Sakunda Holdings Chief Executive Officer Kudakwashe Tagwirei after donating USD 2.6 million COVID-19 equipment to government.
“Sakunda Holdings and its associates came up with a private initiative to compliment government efforts to curb this pandemic specifically in the provision of health facilities, equipment, training and vaccines. The equipment being donated today include PPEs, 15 emergency ventilators, 40 portable ventilators, 35 thousand rapid testing kits, among others worth USD2.6 million,” Tagwirei in a statement.
Sakunda Holdings further donated Arundel Hospital for use by the government of Zimbabwe as a COVID-19 centre.
“The facility will be accessible to every Zimbabwean at no cost.
To ensure operationalisation of the hospital, 55 medical professionals have been employedand their salaries for six months have been provided. Renovations, equipment installed and running cost at the hospital have cost Sakunda about USD 2.8 million. Five emergency ventilators, 10 protable ventilators, 3 portable ultra sound scan, 2200 rapid testing kits, 1350 protective suits among other equipment have been installed at the hospital,” said Tagwirei.
Besides what has been donated to government, Sakunda has another consignment which is in transit from China which include, PPEs, 41 ICU ventilators, 41 ventilator monitors, 10 oxygen con Receiving the donations, President Emmerson Mnangagwa spoke highly of Sakunda.
“I want you all to know, that we accept with similar gratitude whatever you have brought but of course, even Jesus had twelve desciples but we all know he had more favor towards Peter,” President Mnangagwa said.
“I don’t know the reason but maybe Peter quickly understood Jesus more than the others. I am Saying so because I have a list of Sakunda who have done quite a lot in the volumes of the things that we need. I feel comfortable because there can’t be anymore crying when it comes to equiping front line workers in the ministry of health professionals in terms of Personal Protective Equipment,”