By EMILY KUWEMA-
THE New Dawn Government has recognised the private sector as the engine for innovation and job creation.
The sector role in realising economic development cannot be underestimated.
Speaking at the launch of the Public Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF) in April this year, President Hakainde Hichilema said the social and economic development of the country cannot be left to Government alone.
Mr Hichilema said it is not possible for the Government to deliver development on its own, and hence the need to engage the private sector.
Deloitte Zambia is one of the companies in the private sector.
Through its financial advisory, tax and legal services, the company has endeavoured to contribute to the social and economic development of the country.
As a way of giving back to the community in which it operates, Deloitte Zambia has intensified its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities that are focused on pre-identified organization on a year by year basis to make an impact on people’s lives.
Recently, Deloitte Zambia donated US$60,000 to an Eastern Province-based charity organisation called Impact Network, which supports vulnerable children.
Deloitte Zambia further donated kitchen equipment and utensils to the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH) Children’s Hospital.
Speaking during the handover of a dummy cheque to Impact Network, Deloitte Zambia Partner Managing Director Humphrey Mulenga said his company believed in making an impact that mattered.
He said the company’s firm belief is that business cannot thrive if society fails.
“Deloitte is proud to be associated with Impact Network because it supports 6,000 pupils in 43 schools. In health and human services, the institution serves children who suffer from poverty and lack of access to education, and communities in remote areas,” Mr Mulenga said.
He said in the recent past, the company has provided pro-bono services to organizations that support small scale businesses, manufacturing and cultural activities.
“Deloitte provides industry leading audit and assurance, tax and legal, consulting, financial advisory and risk advisory services to nearly 90 per cent of the fortune global 500 and thousands of public and private organizations,” Mr Mulenga said.
He said the company seeks to make an impact in the community where it operates.
Mr Mulenga said Deloitte Zambia is happy to be associated with Impact Network because it implements girl-focused health programmes to remove barriers to education as well as train and employ local teachers.
Impact Network also supports schools that use eco-friendly solar power.
Impact Network Director Operations Karly Southworth commended Deloitte Zambia for the donation which she said improve the lives of the pupils, especially the girls.
Ms Southworth said the donation would benefit over 6,000 pupils from 43 schools and improve the lives of the community where it works.
She said the money would be channeled towards menstrual hygiene for the girls to help keep them in school, and implement activities to fight Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Eastern Province, among other programmes.
National Pediatric Coordinator Manoj Mathews said the Children’s Hospital at UTH is concerned and takes interest in care of children across the country.
Dr Mathews said the donation of kitchen utensils will go a long way in the smooth running of the feeding programme at the hospital.
He commended Deloitte Zambia for the support rendered to the children’s hospital to ensure that both patients and their parents have nutritious meals.
Children’s Hospital assistant catering officer Nancy Nyimba said the equipment donated will go a long way in the preparation of food for the children.
Ms Nyimba said the hospital prepares food for more than 150 patients and about 60 caregivers.
Mr Mulenga said Deloitte Zambia is aware of the challenges faced by the hospital.
He said that is the reason that company decided to make the donation immediately it received the request for some assistance.
He said the work that the children’s hospital does is very important.
He commended the doctors, nurses and other members of staff that work towards ensuring that the children who go to the Children’s Hopsital pediatric wing from all over the country are helped.
“We are proud to offer our people the opportunity to participate in our company’s initiative dubbed Impact Day. This day allows us to give back to the local and surrounding communities by providing our time, labour and expertise to the selected organizations in both traditional and professional skills volunteering,” Mr Mulenga said.
Support rendered to charity organisations is a fundamental part of Deloitte Zambia’s community responsibility initiatives and is organized in many of the company’s offices across the world.
However, over the years, the Impact Day has evolved to include climate change related initiatives.
Deloitte Zambia has also donated reusable pads to ensure that girls based in rural areas are kept in school.
The company has also been working with the Lusaka City Council (LCC) in the Keep Lusaka Clean campaign.
In this regard, Deloitte Zambia donated chlorine to the LCC during the cholera pandemic and helped to plant trees in conjunction with local councils in Kitwe and Lusaka.
Mr Mulenga said as long as Deloitte Zambia continues to operate, it would continue with the initiative of impacting the communities where it works.
As a global professional services firm and one of the most iconic brands in Africa, Deloitte has a proud history of attracting top talent and delivering value to clients and to society.
Over the course of more than 175 years, Deloitte has helped forge ecosystems that deliver breakthrough solutions, helping its clients to succeed in an era of complexity and disruption.
Deloitte provides industry leading audit and assurance, tax and legal, consulting, financial advisory and risk advisory services to nearly 90 per cent of the fortune global 500 and thousands of public and private organizations.
“With more than 6,500 professionals across 12 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, we deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way towards a stronger economy, a more equitable society and a sustainable world,” Mr Mulenga said.
