From left to right : His Excellency, President Mnangagwa reading through plaque. Dr Masiye Kadoma hospital medical superintendent, Nico Muller, CEO Implats and Alex Mhembere CEO Zimplats look on.
“There is strong evidence that investments in people – like health care, education and social protection — are not just good for the individuals who directly benefit, they’re also good for their countries’ growth and political stability.” World Bank President Jim Yong Kim
His Excellency, The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa officially commissioned the Kadoma Hospital Refurbishment project on 19 July 2018 where he also officially opened a new fully equipped laundry block and handed over an ambulance and a service vehicle. This refurbishment project was completed at a total cost of USD2.5 million. Kadoma General Hospital is part of the network of 1600 public health institutions in the country and forms an integral part of the health sector’s referral system.
Speaking at the ceremony which was attended by the medical fraternity, government heads of department, community leadership and the private sector, His Excellency, The President of the Republic Of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa acknowledged the role of the private sector and their willingness to work with the government in the modernisation and industrialisation agenda on the path to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery. “… I exhort other mining concerns in our country and private sector in general to emulate this sterling work that has been done by Zimplats and engage in Corporate Social investment programmes that meet the needs of the communities around which they operate,” said His Excellency.
The President also highlighted the important role of small enterprises/ local service providers. He added that working with local enterprises on this project was a noble economic empowerment approach, and this Zimplats strategy is aligned with the government’s focus on economically empowering local communities and advancing their economic emancipation.
Zimplats guided by its values of care and respect as well as private sector involvement in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), undertook the following major works to ensure the hospital retained its ability to offer quality healthcare:
- Restoration of the water reticulation system, including the sinking of 2 boreholes and installation of water storage
- Restoration of all ablution facilities to a functional state
- Construction of a new laundry block and provision of new washing machines, driers and ironing equipment
- Kitchen refurbishment and installation of new kitchen equipment
- Refurbishment of the existing wood fired incinerator and installation of a new suitably sized coal fire incinerator
- The roadway all around the hospital was rehabilitated, walkways were paved and new pedestrian walkways were established
- A new perimeter fence was installed to assist the hospital with access control
- Facelift of the outpatient’s department, mother and child block, paediatrics ward, both the main and small theatres; maternity ward and old nurses home.
- While one part of the project focused on improving infrastructure, the company also took the opportunity to improve the hospital’s ability to provide key services by:
- Installing a 250-liter autoclave
- Providing a new ambulance and a service vehicle and refurbishing the existing ambulance
- Installation of a solar water heating system
- Purchasing a new dental chair
Also speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr. Alex Mhembere, CEO of Zimplats outlined the company’s commitment to uplifting the livelihoods of local communities by creating shared value. He stated that, “It is our concerted view that being commercially sound and delivering shareholder value that has a positive sustainable impact on society are not mutually exclusive ambitions. Ultimately, sound financial performance is the key enabler, providing the financial means to be a significant contributor and partner to the communities in which we operate. Creating and sharing value is an ethos we live by, and which supports everything we do. The principle of creating and sharing value fairly, which recognises there is a virtuous link between our own success as a business and that of our various stakeholders, underpins every decision we make about our future.”
This project gave Zimplats an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to socio-economic development through its work with local enterprises. This corporate social responsibility project took on board 6 local enterprises who are on the Zimplats Local Enterprise Development programme (LEDs). Three of the LEDs who participated in the project are female led. The LEDs programme seeks to empower small enterprises and build their capacity to offer competitive goods and services. At peak, the project attracted a labour force of 170 with 80% being drawn from the local community. The LEDs were responsible for project management, structural renovations, road works and plumbing, equipment supplies, steel fabrications and supply of building materials.