Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Bhebhe, Senior Business Reporter
BARLOWORLD Equipment, an international earthmoving and supply group says it is buoyed by Zimbabwe’s bright future prospects and would, from October this year, set up shop in the country to expand and market its dealership with Caterpillar.
Barloworld is an industrial processing, distribution and services company with two primary areas of focus — industrial equipment and services and consumer industries in food and ingredient solutions.
The global firm has been a Caterpillar dealer spanning 95 years, providing its products and services to the mining, construction, energy and agricultural sector.
The company already has firm footprint in several South African countries including South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, eSwatini, Botswana, Zambia, Angola and Malawi.
Now the firm is entering Zimbabwe’s sector at a time when the Government is embarking on various capital-intensive projects countrywide.
Announcing its entry into Zimbabwe, Barloworld Southern Africa chief executive officer, Mr Emmy Leeka, said their entry is largely informed by the country’s future prospects and resilience, saying the company looks forward to growing with the country’s economy.
“We are excited for the future of Zimbabwe and cannot wait to see what new possibilities are in store for our customers and the people of this resilient country,” he said.
“Most importantly, we are looking forward to growing with the economy of Zimbabwe. We remain committed to serving our Zimbabwean customers and achieving further growth that will bring impactful and socio-economic benefit to the country and the communities we work with.”
Mr Leeka said that in regions they operate in, the group offers world-class training, with a special focus on developing and enhancing technical maintenance and engineering competencies to its technician along with its customers.
He said as the dealer for all Caterpillar products in southern Africa, Barloworld has extensive experience and expertise in end-to-end solutions and sustainability through world-class products, technology and highly skilled technicians.
“As one of the Caterpillar’s largest global dealer, we will be able to better serve our people and customers and improve our operations and capabilities in the country,” he said.
Guided by the National Development Strategy (NDS1:2021-2025), the Government is already undertaking several major capital-intensive infrastructural development projects in the country with Matabeleland region being one of the recipients of the big projects being implemented.
The projects include roads, dams, schools, health facilities and irrigation schemes. The construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani is among the big national projects that Government is funding.
The new company is therefore coming at the most opportune time when its machinery and equipment is needed for such big projects including the Government’s Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) that targets major roads rehabilitation in cities and towns.
The reconstruction of roads is an economic enabler and a driver towards the attainment of the Government’s Vision of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
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