Deven Engineering to assemble more luxury buses

increase its capacity utilisation and promote local production.
The company’s managing director, Mr Patrick Munyaradzi, revealed this at the launch of two luxury coaches imported from China in Harare last week.
“In the initial phase the buses will be brought as completely built units and as the number of units in operation increases the coaches would be brought in as semi-knocked- down kits which will be assembled at the Willowvale plant,” said Mr Munyaradzi.
The Willowvale plant has a capacity to assemble 30 buses per month and the company expects this project to boost its production capacity to 75 percent from the current 38 to 45 percent.
Mr Munyaradzi added that these buses have already been introduced to the market and have performed well hence this initiative of bringing in more units in completely built form.
“This project also aims at building local capacity and technology transfer with our technical partners,” he said.
He also said their buses comply with Zimbabwe’s road safety regulations as expected by the Vehicle Inspection Department and that they are made up of a rugged steel body and have a minimum ground clearance that suits the terrain in Zimbabwe.
The company, which is an Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe subsidiary, is also manufacturing kitchen, office and school chairs as a way of improving cash flows.
Local Government, Urban and Rural Development and Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo and Industrial Development Corporation managing director Mr Mike Ndudzo also attended the ceremony and applauded the move by the company saying it would help in promoting indigenisation and create employment.
Deven Engineering is one of the two operating truck and bus assemblers in the country and recently completed the assembly of 50 ambulances for the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
Mr Munyaradzi urged local people and companies to promote local products and services in order to improve the country’s economy and supporting indigenisation.
He added that Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and the Zimbabwe Republic Police have played a pivotal role in promoting local products as they have contracted the company to assemble vehicles for their operations.
Deven Engineering is also into coach building and diversified engineering services.