Motor vehicle assembly signals economic recovery

More evidence that the Zimbabwean economy is on the road to recovery is that the importation of completely knocked down (CKD) packs for vehicles assembled at plants in the country has restarted, says Andrew Kuster, country manager for Safmarine in Zimbabwe. The shipping line operates a dry port in Harare and Bulawayo which serves freight landed in. Durban, Maputo and Beira and then shipped overland mainly by rail to the Zimbabwean capital, he says. Safmarine handles mineral exports for a number of mines, with much of this cargo being taken by road and rail to Beira and Maputo, and then into containers because of the weight of the ore, he says. Some high-value concentrates and ores are shipped in containers, but the demand is for 20-foot units, again because of weight limitations. This has resulted in a ‘skewed’ mix of 40 and 20-foot containers in Zimbabwe, as most imports come in 40 footers, he says. Exports handled by Safmarine on behalf of its clients include chrome, graphite, tea, coffee, nuts , tobacco, cotton and hides. The line provides a 16-day service from Maputo to Malaysia, and then on to China and the rest of the East on a 1 700 TEU vessel. Safmarine has also facilitated some innovative smart partnerships with the rail authorities whereby customers fund the refurbishment of rail trucks and rail sidings in return for preferential treatment. Kuster is passionate about service in a highly competitive market. Safmarine runs twice-yearly surveys with its clients to identify any problem areas. “We respond to each and every problem raised in the survey. The result has been an increase in client loyalty as our service levels continuously improve,” he says. An essential element of the Safmarine culture is to get involved with the local community, and Safmarine Zimbabwe is helping refurbish and rebuild a school outside Harare. Founded in 1947 as a farm school, it did not have the facilities needed to accommodate 600 pupils. Clients of Safmarine have also stepped in and helped with donations of building materials, he says. A nursery donated 100 plants to beautify the grounds. Two new classrooms and offices have been built, with a converted container now serving as an office for the head mistress. “This support for a community project by our customers shows that people are positive about the future,” says Kuster.