As Africa’s second largest copper producer, Zambia faces a deadly third wave of the COVID19 pandemic, its healthcare posture remains stretched with scarcity in bed spaces, oxygen supply and other medical equipment. The gravity of healthcare hurdle is such that these bottlenecks are a reflection of readiness, a systematic concern across the world. However this period has also revealed leadership responsiveness to the pandemic as the private sector demonstrates elasticity to the need to complement state efforts in a limited public finance environment to curbing the spread and ultimately save lives.
Zambia’s largest and most profitable indigenous bank, Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc has remained agile to an evolving external and internal threat landscape posed by a widening pandemic not only by unveiling transact ability enabling digital work around solution but this time dipping in its Sustainable Responsible Investment – SRI wallet to procure medical facilities to complement state efforts in combating COVID19.
Zanaco Plc threw the Zambian health authorities a life line of K4.56million (circa $225k) worth of ventilators, oxygen, test kits and other medications required, the biggest contribution from the banking sector so far.
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“We had to do something about the escalating situation. We couldn’t stand aside while the community was experiencing increasing loss of lives. The materials we have purchased directly on behalf of the health ministry will go a long way in alleviating some of the extreme challenges faced in our health facilities. We are also reminding and encouraging everyone to follow the prevention guidelines. The fight against the pandemic is one that we all need to be actively involved in to help our families, communities and our nation”
Zambia National Commercial Bank Chief Executive Officer – Mukwandi Chibesakunda
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The Lusaka Securities Exchange – LuSE listed bank has continued partnering growth through extending COVID relief packages to SMEs in addition to traditional lending to the key growth sectors of the economy. The Corporate Social Responsibility – CSR gesture of this magnitude reveals financial institutions responsiveness to the needs of its key stakeholders, the community a space that houses its existing and potential clients whose health it continues to value. Zanaco Plc’s has thrown a cumulative K9 million life line to Zambia’s health care authorities in the fight against COVID19.
The Kwacha Arbitrageur