Tardy payers have knock-on effect along the supply chain

ZAMBIA’S FREE trade policy has boosted the
economy and widened the investment
field considerably.
At the rate things are going we are very sure of
a bright future," says Kelvin Munalula, controller
freight operations at BBC.
The company was established eight years ago
as a customs clearance specialist but has since
expanded to include freight forwarding. It chiefly
provides express cargo services based on 20 tons
and below from any part of South Africa to the
mining sector in Zambia. Customs clearing is done
at Kazungula, Victoria Falls, Chirundu, Kasumbalesa
and Lusaka International Airport.
Currently, clients include suppliers of mining
equipment, such as submersible pumps, hydraulic
cylinders and valves, to the Lumwana, Mopani
and Konkola copper mines in Zambia. In fact, due
to a large and growing client base, BBC recently
opened its own warehouse in Boksburg.
Like all other companies in the freight industry,
the unstable fuel price is of concern to BBC.
Chief operations officer Simon Mwale cites the
late payment for services rendered as a major
challenge to their business as clients wait to be
paid by the mines before settling their debt
with suppliers.
As the price of copper is at a record high he
considers this to be inexcusable as the tardiness
of payment from the mines affects the day-today
operations of everyone concerned and can
actually lead to prices having to be increased
further to cover long outstanding debts.
Mwale believes that the country needs to
invest in manufacturing and not just trading. “If
our people do not invest in education we will have
a nation living on bribery and smuggling.
“It is not what happens in life but your attitude
which makes the difference between winners and
losers,” he concludes.