Derick Tsimba
A local bus manufacturer AVM Africa (PVT) LTD has vouched to end transport woes in Harare following the announcement of its partnership with City Card, a company which is in a joint venture with Sino-Zimbabwe.
The partnership with City Card should see AVM Africa manufacturing city buses that are going to be servicing the urban transport route.
AVM Africa Managing Director recently said their company had come up with a turnaround strategy which should see them reclaiming their market in providing bus transport in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa in general.
Chief Executive Officer of City Card P/L Ngonidzashe Matsenga has since publicised in a statement that his company was going to provide kits from China for buses to be assembled by AVM in Harare targeting the urban commuter market.
The provision of complete knocked down kits by City Card from China for buses to be assembled at the AVM plant will provide a new fresh start for the bus manufacturer changing its face and putting Zimbabwe back on the Southern Africa map as a bus manufacturer.
Buses to be manufactured at AVM Africa are going to be state of the art with speed limiters, including meeting Government and International standards on public bus transport requirements.
The local bus manufacturer AVM Africa has a long history of servicing the Zimbabwean transport sector, the Company’s history dates back to 1961, AVM Africa (PVT) LTD formally W. Dahmer and Company was established in 1961 by Messers W. Dahmer and Brennett. It was then bought by Lonhro in the late seventies and in 2002 it was bought over by KSM Holdings owned by Honourable K.S Musanhi. AVM Africa has been a major supplier of durable and reliable AVM buses for local and far afield markets.
AVM Africa has a capacity to produce up to 40 buses per month on a double shift and during its peak periods AVM employed up to 2500 people directly and created employment to 85 downstream companies as services, material and parts providers for example Dunlop and PG Glasses in Mutare.
Partnering City Card should also witness the AVM plant create employment throughout the value chain as medium enterprises are going to be subcontracted to make bus seats, supply glasses, paints and other required materials.
The AVM local bus manufacturing value addition at 65% local and 35% imports saves the country much of its foreign currency earnings and has a potential of increasing the country’s foreign currency earnings through bus exports. Foreign currency remains crucial for other economic sectors to contribute in nation building.
Zimbabwe should also benefit from the local manufacture of buses greatly through the reduction of bus shipping costs. The shipping cost of one fully built imported bus can accommodate complete knocked down kits for 4 buses in a 40ft container.
The products which have been produced by the AVM bus manufacturing plant include City, Intercity and Country buses powered by various drivelines namely DAF, Scania, Mercedes Benz, Volvo, Isuzu, Iveco, Tata, Faw and Cummins.
AVM has concluded a partnership that should soon ensure a strong reliable bus fleet with a better position to provide good service that remains affordable and reliable to commuters.
