US$10m bus deal takes off

The country’s transport sector is headed for a major boost following the successful completion of a UDS$10 million deal between a Chinese and local company.
This will result in the setting up of a bus assembly company in Zimbabwe.
Plans are already underway to construct a plant that will be producing 500 units per year.
The development comes at a time when Government is working on plans to phase out commuter omnibuses and replace them with conventional buses in a bid to ease the congestion that has hit many cities and towns.
The Sunday Mail has established that a local company, Meriwell Investment and a Chinese bus manufacturing company, Zhuhai Granton & Bus Coaches, have agreed to set shop in the country.
Th venture will assemble buses for both local and regional markets.
Chinese investors have been flocking to the country which adopted a Look East Policy at the turn of the new millennium.
In an recent interview with The Sunday Mail, Granton Meriwell Investment chief executive officer, Mr Norman Manyevere said some of the buses are already in the country.
“The deal came about after the Look East Policy which was introduced by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe some years ago. We saw it as a good opportunity to invest without jeopardizing the indigenization laws of this country,” he said.
“We will be assembling and supplying high end luxury buses that offer exclusive packages to suit our clients’ needs and comfortable purchase terms.
“This bus is a first of its kind, a GT 6120E3 or simply the African Bus. lt is suitable for the African roads and climate conditions. We will also be providing back up service that includes repairing and maintenance of the coaches.
“We will be manufacturing this type of bus with specifications to our roads, including those in the countryside. We are working with people who have been in the engineering field and have the manufacturing industry expertise.
“Granton Mariwell Investment is a wholly owned Zimbabwean company that will always look for the best way of doing business with its partners and the people at large,” he said. Mr Manyevere said the deal will result in exchange programmes for engineering students from both countries.
He said the company will employing not less than 1 000 people.
“That is our way of advancing and implementing the ZimAsset.”