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Cde Chombo

Herald Reporter
Home Affairs Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo has hailed a partnership between a local company, Nations Hardware & Electrical, and Chinese hi-tech firm Hikvision to provide security-related products, saying it is in line with technological ambitions outlined in the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset. The launch of the partnership and unveiling of the security products, which use smart technology, were done in Harare on Thursday.

The partnership between Nations Hardware & Electrical and Hikvision will bring the latest Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) smart technology to Zimbabwe to ensure that businesses and private citizens get the best camera and surveillance security.

Hikvision is the world’s leading supplier of video surveillance products and solutions and the partnership with Nations Hardware & Electrical is aimed at serving a diverse set of vertical markets, including retail, banking and finance, transportation, education, commercial, Government and residential applications.

In a speech read on his behalf by Ms Pamela Jaiwa, an official from his office, Dr Chombo said the new technology was in line with the country’s developmental goals.

“What we have witnessed is truly ground-breaking and having known Nations Hardware & Electrical’s business model which aims at developing and empowering citizens, we applaud their efforts to ensure that Zim-Asset is a success,” he said.

“We have truly witnessed a remark- able technological innovation presented to us by a local company. I encourage all of us to embrace this technology as it goes a long way in aiding our businesses and organisations to be more efficient, secure and productive.”

Featuring the industry’s strongest R&D workforce, Hikvision uses its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities to design and develop innovative CCTV and video surveillance products.

The company’s complete product suite includes smart IP cameras, HD analogue cameras, speed domes, NVRs, DVRs, video management software, access control and alarm systems, encoders, decoders and other elements of sophisticated security systems.

Among the array of smart solutions launched were those specifically tailored for Government use such as e-policing and automatic incident alerts.

E-policing is a system that automatically detects traffic violations and generates traffic tickets as appropriate and advises motorists of fines on their registered mobile devices.

Auto-incident alerts send live information to emergency response teams like ambulances and fire departments in order to ensure that in the event of an accident, rescue personnel are on the scene as soon as possible.

Other smart solutions include those applicable to the energy sector, wildlife conservation, fleet monitoring, systems integration, vertical solutions and number plate recognition.

“Hikvision products have become a household name and are now being specified by many governments, local authorities and industries as the product of choice to protect their utilities, correctional facilities and defence infrastructures,” said Mr Douglas Smith, a manager at Nations Hardware & Electrical.

Hikvision, which is publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, has a truly global presence with regional offices in nearly 20 locations around the world.

Said Mr Smith: “Nations Hardware & Electrical’s continuous innovation, fast response to the changing dynamics experienced in the security field, the reliability of their products and the continuous support and close working relationship with their clients are all contributing positively.”

He said the developments by his company were aimed at meeting Zim-Asset objectives.

Among other products, Nations Hardware & Electrical also supplies building, plumbing, electrical, safety and hardware goods.

Another Nations Hardware & Electrical official, Mr Dusty Joosab, said their objective was to provide unique and world class services in the hardware, security and electrical goods sector.