A Global Fund Team will arrive in Zimbabwe in a fortnight to assess the implementation and procurement progress of projects they fund.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
This emerged out of the Zimbabwe Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) update meeting on Wednesday which is regularly held to track funding, procurement and implementation patterns for Malaria, HIV and Tuberculosis.
It was established in response to requirements and recommendations of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (” The Global Fund ” – GF) where GF processes at country level should be led by multi-stakeholder structure.
The arrival of the GF team initially came out from UNDP Zimbabwe Country Manager Mr. Georges van Montfort who said they would be coming in a few weeks.
The team will be coming from Geneva, Switzerland, where the organisation is headquartered. Global Fund injects the largest chunk of money needed in the implementation and medication of HIV, TB and Malaria with the website saying it pumped into Zimbabwe over US$1, 4 billion.
CCM Zimbabwe Coordinator Mr Oscar Mundida chipped in adding that the country team would come in two weeks’ time.
“The team will be coming by 21 or 22 (March) and they want to discuss issues in an adhoc meeting,” he said.
The 2 percent tax announced by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube were perceived a thorn in the flesh as it disrupted the funding patterns of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria medication and laboratory costs.
The creation of Nostro FCA accounts and RTGS FCA accounts was also discussed as there were challenges when it comes to paying suppliers, and even health workers. Health workers were said to be facing challenges in opening Nostro FCA accounts.
