Central location offers strategic opportunities

ZAMBIA’S landlocked location is not a problem but an opportunity as it is very central to the rest of the region, says Halifax Freight Services managing director Perry Siatulye. The company, started five years ago by Siatulye after a long career as a customs officer, has offices at every border crossing – Livingstone, Nakonde, Chirundu, Katima-Mulilo and Kasumbalesa. It specialises in customs clearing and forwarding and Siatulye believes the experience he gained as a customs officer has given him invaluable knowledge and experience as well as great contacts to deliver the best possible service to Halifax’s clients. He insists that all staff have studied clearing at a college before he employs them. The company is also more than prepared to go the extra mile. It has for instance assisted clients with buying trucks, from negotiating with dealers in the UK and completing the transaction, right through to collecting the cargo at Durban or Dar es Salaam and delivering it to the client’s door. In general, its main customers are importers of mining equipment for drilling and exporters of copper. Like everyone else involved in freight transport, Siatulye is very optimistic about Zambia’s economic future. He believes the government is doing a fine job by allowing everyone space in the development of the country. This is further assisted by a free market economy and the strengthening of the kwacha. “Only the lazy are complaining,” concludes Perry.