New Zimbabwe forwarders’ association set up

Providing a voice for smaller companies, a group of agencies has established the International Freight Forwarders’ Association of Zimbabwe (Ifazim). “Smaller players were having a challenge getting their voices heard in the Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ),” says Patrick Gwasera, the first chairperson of Ifazim. Agents operating in Zimbabwe are compelled by law to belong to a recognised association. “We have been recognised by government. We are in line with the call by government to have more businesses owned by indigenous players,” he says. The smaller agents, he says, want to be given the opportunity to move greater volumes of tobacco and minerals out of the country. According to Gwasera, Ifazim has around 50 founding members. Work has started on developing training courses to equip members to take on bigger projects.