TelOne and NetOne, Africa’s major telecom companies, have invested $10 million to upgrade the public health facilities in Zimbabwe, media reports said. The move by the companies mark an emergency response towards Covid-19 pandemic.
It is reported that the government is also exploring opportunities to help mobilise the resources toward the mitigation and containment of the pandemic.
ICT Minister Jenfan Muswere, told the media, “Both entities resolved to collaborate as state-owned entities in the telecoms sector on a 50/50 joint Covid-19 mitigation corporate social investment initiative and put together a combined total of $10 million towards both the immediate needs as well as medium to long term projects that seek to capacitate our public health facilities.”
Mr Jenfan Muswere said that the government is supported by the contribution from companies across sectors toward the establishment of the national Covid-19 response hotline. The capital and donation will help the country set-up of the Ministry of Health and Child Care National Emergency Call Centre Facility.
The government has appreciated both the telecoms for availing various ICT equipment needed for the dissemination of Covid-19 information to prevent the further spread of the virus.
The African telecom sector has seen many developments from companies such as Airtel, Reliance in recent times as they seek to establish their presence on the continent.