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.