Elections slow down Zimbabwe business

JAMES HALL MBABANE – One year after inaugurating its Johannesburg to Harare service, the Swaziland firm Speedy Overborder is committed to the route despite business fluctuations. “Business was picking up very nicely after our launch last May, and suddenly it slowed down two months before the elections. The whole national economy is dependent on the political arena,” company president Willie Stuart told FTW. As one of the few companies in any field to commence operations in Zimbabwe recently, while other firms were disinvesting, Speedy Overborder’s experience provides lessons on the country’s business scene. “Political developments are beginning to have a negative impact on business. Our trucks are running half full. But as long as we are committed to our Monday, Wednesday and Friday runs from Johannesburg, we will operate this route with regularity,” Stuart said. All orders must be prepaid before shipments leave Johannesburg. Deliveries were off in the election run-up, signalling concerns over the country’s political drift. Stuart believes importation of goods will pick up now that election results have at least ended uncertainty over the outcome. Like others in the freight haulage business, Stuart feels cargo carriers are good barometers of any nation’s economic and political climate. “I believe we should do a lot more marketing as a company so people will know we aren’t frightened by political events in Zimbabwe, and we still believe in the country,” Stuart said.