Finmark lauds indigenisation drive

02 Nov, 2014 - 06:11 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

ONE of four companies awarded the tender to provide prepaid meters to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) has lauded Government for deliberately targeting local firms to help in infrastructure projects.

Finmark — which installed more than 150 000 prepaid meters in Harare, Marondera, Chinhoyi, Kariba, Kwekwe, Gweru and Zvishavane — said the initiative created job opportunities and helped spur growth of local companies.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail Business recently, Finmark chief executive officer Mr David Yosa said incorporation of indigenous companies was a clear sign that Government was sincere in its Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation-driven policy of having local companies as partners.

“What has since transpired is that from the experience gained through the prepaid meter installation phase, Zesa has now opted to go the smart metering route, a development which we fully support,” said Mr Yosa. “We have put in place a massive investment in terms of labour, equipment and technical experience, which brings us at par with international best practices in this sector.”

About 515 000 prepaid meters were installed in just under two years. Comparatively, Botswana installed about 85 000 such units in three years.

Zim-Asset, the economic policy blueprint that will carry the country through 2018, indicates that Zesa has to install 800 000 electricity meter units of which 500 000 will be prepaid while the remaining 300 000 will be smart meters.

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