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Ekusileni Medical Centre

Thandeka Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
THREE international companies from India and Austria have been shortlisted as potential investors for Ekusileni Hospital as Government pushes to re-open the health institution.

Matabeleland North provincial director Dr Nyasha Masuka, who chairs the committee tasked to work towards re-opening the institution, said of the nine shortlisted investors, three of them were from foreign countries.

“We have shortlisted nine potential investors that have shown interest in partnering with Government.

Of the nine, six are local and the other three are international investors. Of the international companies, two are from India and one is from Austria,” said Dr Masuka.

He said they would use the Zimbabwe Public Investment Management Guidelines that were recently published by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to choose an investor for the hospital.

Dr Masuka said the guidelines provide guidance on how Joint Venture Partnerships should be structured.

Recently, Dr Masuka said his committee was working on accessing proposals from the nine companies as Government had already given them the green light to do so.

He said there is some outstanding work that needs to be done at the hospital.

“There’s also some work that needs to be finished off at the hospital. The work includes finishing off the kitchen, theatre and the incinerator for waste management. The occupancy of the hospital will depend on how soon this work is completed,” said Dr Masuka.

Two weeks ago, Mpopoma-Pelandaba legislator Cde Joseph Tshuma urged Government to investigate reasons behind delays in opening the hospital.

Contributing to debate in Parliament, Cde Tshuma said there were companies willing to run the institution, but it seems there are elements bent on sabotaging Government efforts.

“I would like this to be put on record that this Ekusileni matter must be investigated because I am told that there are companies willing to open the hospital,” said Cde Tshuma.

He challenged Government to prioritise Ekusileni just like other hospitals in the country. Ekusileni Hospital was built in 2001 and operated for a few months before being shut down after it was discovered that the acquired equipment, worth millions of dollars, was obsolete.

@thamamoe