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Natasha Chamba, Business Reporter
LABORATORY Equipment and Consumables (LEC) Biotec Company has set up a manufacturing unit in Bulawayo aimed at meeting demand in the Matabeleland region.

The privately owned Harare-based company provides laboratory equipment and consumables mainly for school, medical, research, mining and industrial laboratories.

The new entity was recently launched in the city during a function at the firm’s premises in Bulawayo. Speaking at the event (LEC) Biotec director, Miss Sicelo Dube, said they were excited to expand into the southern region.

“LEC Biotec is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe. We cut on imports and produce everything by ourselves thus offering quality products at a low price,” she said.

“The Bulawayo branch is a supplier of laboratory equipment and chemicals to Bulawayo Metropolitan, Midlands, Matabeleland North and South provinces.
The opening of the Bulawayo branch has seen the employment of nine people.

“At Biotec we are not only driven by the zeal to become the leading supplier of all your laboratory needs but to supply the Sadc region as well.”

Miss Dube said that their company manufactures mobile laboratories for schools that do not have a laboratory. Speaking at the same event, Matabeleland North acting provincial educational director Mr Jabulani Mpofu who was the guest of honour said LEC Biotec was already supplying mining companies, industries and academic institutions in the region.

He said the opening of the Bulawayo unit was in line with economic development thrust in the country and the drive to substitute imports so as to trim the trade deficit.

“The manufacturing unit is focusing on producing materials and chemicals that were once being imported from other countries,” he said.

“This decreases the unemployment rate in the country as manufacturing will increase availability of materials and chemicals in the country.”

During the event Biotec handed over a science kit to Mvuthu Secondary School in Matabeleland North. – @queentauruszw