Nontando Magagula
Government’s ongoing Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP), which is in its second phase, is leaving many Zimbabweans smiling as the New Dispensation’s infrastructural development thrust continues unstoppably on.
The programme is not only benefitting the usual end users such as motorists and other citizens. Other entities which have seen the programme as a windfall include suppliers of earth moving equipment.
Giving a nine-month trading update for its various subsidiaries as at 30 September 2021, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE)-listed entity, Zimplow indicated on Monady this week that its earth moving distribution subsidiary, Barzem had benefitted from ERRP.
“Barzem delivered a 42 percent growth in volumes of earthmoving equipment for the nine-month period under review. Workshop efficiencies improved by 50 percent compared to the same period last year,” said the company.
The company attributed the positive results to Government’s ERRP programme.
“The road rehabilitation programme has been a major driver of the uptake of earthmoving equipment during the period under review. The unit looks forward to sustain the performance so far by following through on its strategy to improve response times, technician utilisation through upskilling and tooling, financial risk management and a collaborative parts procurement system,” read part of the update.
The company, which also sells equipment to the mining and agricultural sectors, was bullish about its performance during the last quarter of the year.
“The prospects for a good agricultural season, continued growth in the infrastructure development projects as well as firm global metal prices offer a good platform for a strong fourth quarter performance,” the company said.
Zimplow’s subsidiaries include Mealie Brand, which manufactures ox drawn farming implements, Farmec which distributes tractors and Powermec, which distributes generator sets. Other subsidiaries include CT Bolts, Scanlink, which services Scania engines and TrenTyre, a tyre distribution company.
