The Zimbabwe government on Tuesday urged transparency in the tendering process for COVID-19 supplies.
It said it was concerned with the mushrooming of briefcase companies that are being involved in the tendering process for COVID-19 supplies and warned that it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that such bogus companies are sifted out.
Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in view of the development, the cabinet had resolved that only reputable and established companies be contracted to supply COVID-19 materials.
This would also guard against supply of substandard materials.
The minister said the country had made notable progress in the fight against the pandemic, including the establishment of fully functional quarantine centers at all ports of entry, provision of funds for drilling and rehabilitation of boreholes countrywide to improve water supply as well as screening of all returnees by law enforcement agents.
To date, 3,611 returning residents have been compulsorily quarantined, she said.
Companies that have been permitted to operate are also obliged to subject all their employees to rapid results tests as soon as reasonably possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, she added.
The minister said the government remains cautiously optimistic about the low rate of COVID-19 deaths and infections in the country, which stands at 37 cases, including 12 recoveries and four deaths.
The country has so far conducted 23,096 COVID-19 tests.
“The country should not take this apparent low rate as a sign to be complacent about, but should continue with unity of purpose and determination exhibited this far,” she said. Enditem
