adminRumbidzayi Zinyuke Mutare Bureau
A Manicaland-based power tools supply company is spreading its tentacles into Mozambique.
Intraburry (Pvt) Ltd is a supplier of the Husqvarna forest and gardening outdoor power tools, mainly to the timber industry.
Speaking at a Health and Safety Expo organised by Diamond FM in Mutare yesterday, Intraburry Mutare branch manager, Mr Herbert Macheka, said the company had been exploring the Mozambican market.
“We are planning to open a branch in Mozambique,” he said.
“We have been doing some exploration on how we can set it up. But the problem is that it is very difficult to start a business in Mozambique, the requirements are too steep and it takes a lot of time to get a licence.”
Mozambique, like Zimbabwe, is rated poorly in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings, which has prompted the two governments to come up with ways to improve.
Progress has been recorded in Zimbabwe.
Mr Macheka said while it was difficult to establish a business in Mozambique, that country’s timber industry was more diversified than Zimbabwe’s, hence there were more opportunities for growth.
“Mozambique has more indigenous trees than Zimbabwe,” he said. “Its timber industry is more diversified. All they need are robust machines to service that industry and we can provide that. We want to explore how best we can capitalise on this and grow our business.”
Zimbabwe’s timber industry consists mainly of pine, gum, wattle and mopane trees.
Mozambique is endowed with mahogany, oak and teak which fetch more money and are of good quality.
Mr Macheka said while the company was still working on penetrating the Mozambican market, it was also working on increasing its visibility in Zimbabwe, as a supplier of quality tools that reduce workplace injuries.
He said most Zimbabwean companies were taking shortcuts on health and safety because they wanted to save money, putting workers’ lives at risk.
Manicaland is the hub of forestry in Zimbabwe, with companies like Wattle Company, Allied Timbers, Border Timbers and Mutare Board and Paper Mills based in the province.
Online Reporter