Top Zimbabwean businessman Dr Strive Masiyiwa has pledged to coordinate the procurement and distribution of Covid-19 supplies by the private sector to unblock the supply chain.

Dr Masiyiwa, who was recently appointed African Union's special envoy to coordinate the African Private Sector Initiative for procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential supplies.

Dr Masiyiwa said the continent was getting 2,5 million test kits per month -- a figure that translated to about 50 000 per country.

Dr Masiyiwa said to solve the supply chain problem, he initially sought to understand what was required and mobilised African experts, Governments, the private sector and international stakeholders.

AU Chairman and South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, recently appointed Dr Masiyiwa to coordinate a private sector-led continental effort to procure critical PPE and other essential supplies in the fight against Covid-19.