Pioneer upgrades fleet as business picks up

Renewed optimism in the Zimbabwean economy is reflected in the upgrading of transport fleets. “A lot of us have been investing in new fleet since last year,” says Albert Ushe, group chief executive officer of Pioneer Corporation Africa. Through its network, Pioneer offers overnight deliveries and pick up services between all cities in Zimbabwe, as well as consolidation and transport services for imports and exports. “We move everything, from an envelope to a full 35-ton load,” he says. He sees “lots of potential,” particularly for companies like Pioneer, which has its headquarters in Harare and has maintained its operations throughout the economic and political upheavals of the past few years. Other companies, which maintained only a “minimum presence” in the country are now facing “capacity issues,” he says. Companies like Pioneer have continued to invest, and have on-line track and trace, as well as scan and load systems. This has created a window of opportunity for Zimbabwean companies which are now able to compete with the bigger internationals, which have lost much of their capacity within the country. He says a measure of the recovery of the economy is that “we don’t have to go to South Africa to shop any more”. Most foodstuffs, groceries, clothing and office products are now available in Zimbabwe again – which is a relief to the Zimbabweans who had to make regular shopping trips across the border.