Government must deal with Dangote Trucks
As MMD National Youth Secretary, I have just concluded a successful tour of the Copperbelt Province. I particularly spent a lot of time attending to various social and economic issues affecting our people in Kabushi constituency in Ndola.
Kabushi is so dear to my heart because this is the place where i lived and i still have a lot of my friends and family members living there.The interactions with ordinary people made me realise the importance of concerted efforts in responding to the many challenges affecting our people. I heard chilling tales of how our people are coping with the everyday life pressures but I was particularly encouraged by their resilience to change their situation through hard work.
[pullquote]How can someone explain the decision to allow Dangote Cement Zambia Limited to bring in 400 trucks into Zambia from Nigeria to start moving its cement?[/pullquote]
What was however troubling is the fact that certain Government agencies are working in reverse.President Lungu’s call on some civil servants that are frustrating Government programmes such as the Voter Registration Exercise should be supported.
We can confirm that Zambia has some civil servants who are clearly not aiding President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s passionate drive to empower local Zambians. We feel the frustrations that President Lungu has shared over the inept civil service are well placed as the inefficiency is deep rooted.
It is very clear to see that some Government agencies are working against the overall aspirations of President Lungu’s administration.
How can someone explain the decision to allow Dangote Cement Zambia Limited to bring in 400 trucks into Zambia from Nigeria to start moving its cement? Does this mean that Dangote Cement Zambia Limited does not trust in the capacity of our trucking firms to move its cement across the country? How many jobs would have been created if Dangote Cement Zambia Limited was compelled to engage our local trucking firms? Did ZRA even collect the right amount of duty on those trucks?
We have done our investigations and can confirm to the nation that the decision to allow Dangote to bring in its own trucks was part of the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement signed with the Zambia Development Agency.So how can public officers sanction such a move which is clearly not in the best interest of the nation?
Several transport firms in Ndola and across the Copperbelt have packed their trucks due to lack of business. The coming in of a huge cement plant in Masaiti by the Dangote Group was heralded as a great business opportunity for the local transport sector.
We thereby appeal to Government to compel Dangote Cement Limited to take back its trucks to Nigeria and force the company to hire local transport companies to move its cement.We believe this will be a more sustainable way of sharing benefits of the Dangote investment with the local people.
Issued by: Bowman C. Lusambo
MMD National Youth Secretary
The Zambian government is the only government in the world that will go out of its way to make sure foreigners prosper while their own fellow Zambians are put at a competitive disadvantage for decades to come.
Zambian government are screwed once again by the Nigerian crooks. And the trucks came in country TAX FREE, and who is victim of ZRA…. The Post Newspaper. The days of Issa Caledu are back.
Bantu balibe chabwino. Nanga the 400 drivers, who have been employed? What about the indirect beneficiaries at home living off a new income stream from their relatives working as drivers? Then there are the mechanics employed to service the fleet. How else is Dangote going to help maintain low cement prices if he doesn’t keep transportation costs low by using his own fleet to distribute the product?
We seem to want everything given to us on a silver platter. Protection everywhere. When you go into business expect competition.
Just make sure that duty is paid and all the drivers are Zambian. Otherwise you will just make the cement prices to go up.
Specifics are important if you are to be understood – its the PF governement! On this one though I support their decision. Dangote Cement is actually a Zambian company and must be treated just like any other company and must be allowed to keep costs to a minimum whichever way they know how.
Hahaha Ba Lusambo…be logical not using emotions. Eish
Dangote is not as dull as you Lusambo.Ever heard of ‘Supply Chain Strategy’?I bet you haven’t, so stick to what you know best – Drinking kachasu and shouting ‘Pa bwato’.
Is it Zambians or Nigerians who are employed to drive these trucks?
Last time I checked, Zambia was a free country. Why is Dangote putting Zambians out of business, and yet they know the land better than he does? Clearly, they are running inefficient businesses, and it is good they are being put out of business.
Dangote trucks are meant to distribute Dangote cement not maize haulage, so what are you complaining about. Furthermore you ask, “Who allowed Dangote to bring in trucks?” do we manufacture trucks in Zambia?
What level of reasoning is this?? And this is the calibre of people seeking public office!! What Dangote has done is what a proper, real business man does who is determined to make maximum profits legitimately. In fact Dangote was supposed to build his own retail shops for selling his cement, so that everything would have been Dangote (production, transportation, retail). These are serious businessmen making use of the benefits of the liberalised market.
The issue is not what businessmen do.Dangote was within his right to exploit any gullible group of people to his advantage.The issue is we need legislation to support our local industry.Any responsible government would have made sure Zambian businesses are protected. Build your factory fine but let our trucks deliver your cement.How can one sit there applauding the demise of Zambian truck firms.If this is the thinking prevalent in our country it explains the economic slavery we are currently experiencing.Get rid of your slave mentality!!!
@ Napapa Sana
I cant agree more than what you have said. Ba Bowman Lusambo, please help the same people you pretend to help by being factual! Before Dangote came on the scene, what were these truckers transporting? Has Dangote brought Nigerians to drive these trucks? What compelled Dangote to do what it has done? Please dont politicize anything for nothing. Did you know how much the price of Larfage cement was before Dangote came on board? What were reasons of those fake and abnormal prices? Do you know the price of Larfage cement today? If so why? It has naturally fallen from K90 a pocket to K52 and if you askme, Larfage is still making super profit at this price. So the question is why didnt you take Larfage to task for stealing from Zambians?
Anyway, the business model that Dangote…
You find something wrong with Dangote transporting his cement to his selling points (Depots) so as to cut out middle men and maintain low prices? I find your reasoning weird Bwana Youth Secretary?
I totally agree with you, right now we are enjoying low cement prices because of such initiatives by Dangote, this Lusambo has missed the point, in fact it’s such thinking that’s making him and his party irrelevant to Zambia.
If Dangote is acting outside the law and contract obligations, let him be sued by GRZ.
Its fine, this will create more jobs and the price of the commodity will further reduce bcoz of the high supply of the transport. When u leave it to the local transporter they increase the price and who suffers the poor person out there and not the transporter
If Bowman Lusambo succeeds in this bid then Zambians must say good bye to the low Dangote cement price. Zambians charges/prices are outrageous. The transporters will want to make a kill and so Dangote will similarly raise the price of cement. In the end only the other cement producers will be happy because of their price which is currently higher than that of Dangote. Clearly this Lusambo character is trying very hard to be in parliament next year.
Can someone Press the DELETE button and DELETE this guy. he is full of nonsense
Next time he will say who allowed civil servants to buy cars because it has put taxi drivers out of business
Balabish
The author of this article seems to be so frustrated, I can therefore deduce that he has a lot of trucks that are parked in his yard.
There is nothing wrong with what Dangote has done, that’s entirely a pure business decision ( Make or buy, or Hire or buy).
I therefore urge the author to diversify his businesses and avoid such risk.
Which part of Nigeria are you from? You are clearly not Zambian if you are not equally frustrated by the continued suffering of Zambians.A businessman should think Business but a government leader should think prosperity of the people who voted him into power
Lusambo learn not to submit if you have no sensible things to write about. Your posting lacks merit and therefore senseless. The aspect of middlemen in any business transaction increases the production cost which is eventually passed on to members of the general public. Are you not happy that the price of cement has not escalated to unmanageable levels despite the economy not performing well. This can only be attributed to competition brought by Ndangote. Imagine the absence of Ndangote with this fragile economy we are currently experiencing; simply exploitation from Chilanga. Learn to be sensible not just posting for the sake of it.
‘How many jobs would have been created if Dangote Cement Zambia Limited was compelled to engage our local trucking firms?’ this question ba bowman is not intelligent, you need to rephrase. is dangote bringing in their own drivers from nigeria? will the maintenance be done by mechanics from nigeria? is the transportation adding value and how is it going help in improving the constuction industry and the effiency of service to the pipo? these are some of the questions u shuld ask bowman. when you have answered them, them write an article. not what you see is what you say. green plants grow on both fertile ground and septic tanks. be balanced, try to be intelligent
Ask yourself why we are enjoying cheap cement now? The hefty amount for transporting costs that zambian companies may offer could result in sky rocketing cement prices and you’d be the very people complaining. This kind of reminds me of the rise in cooking oil prices after the ban on importing cooking oil was effected. That was reversed, mind you.
Gvt has been pleading to business entities nt to exploit the poor and they have rejected the call hiding under the pretence of dollar. Dangote feels that its better to do the transportation on himself than being exploited by zambian businessmen. Now the zambian transporters are running back to gvt to hear their cry wen they paid a deaf ear wen gvt cried foul. The same also goes to the oil companies, they have failed to reduce oil and gvt is force to allow importation of oil @ a cheaper price. Don’t blame gvt for lack of business coz u have failed to reason wit gvt. Next is mealie meal. Jst wait till it finishes the hammer mill project and the price will go down to k45. And I pray that gvt does nt sell its maize to anyone, let the millers suffer the consequence. Oredy in kasama they are…
kanshi its Bowman who wrote this article? anyway thas y…..
KIKIKI LUSAMBO A friend of Edger Lungu.Iwe u can laugh where the country can go with such shallow thinking by the aspiring Kabushi MP.And these are chaps surrounding EL.Anyway Guy scott told us that the man knows nothing Zambia will be dead if u allow Lungu to allow.Tata ba Scot twimwena.We wish we listened to you.Dollar naipena.
KIKIKI LUSAMBO A friend of Edger Lungu.Iwe u can laugh where the country can go with such shallow thinking by the aspiring Kabushi MP.And these are chaps surrounding EL.Anyway Guy scott told us that the man knows nothing Zambia will be dead if u allow Lungu to allow.Tata ba Scot twimwena.We wish we listened to you.Dollar naipena.
IKIKI LUSAMBO A friend of Edger Lungu.Iwe u can laugh where the country can go with such shallow thinking by the aspiring Kabushi MP.And these are chaps surrounding EL.Anyway Guy scott told us that the man knows nothing Zambia will be dead if u allow Lungu to rule.Tata ba Scot twaimwena.We wish we listened to you.Dollar naipena.
Muntu alibe chabwino, with the current state of the kwacha, if Dangote did not come on the market believe me larfage cement would have taken advantage of the situation. This time around, we would have been buying the commodity at K150-200 per bag. So leave Dangote alone bane, he is a real investor not these other Kaponyas.
Tell us which local contractors have the capacity first. Take a good look at the trucking companies in Zambia now. They charge very high prices because they have to cover the cost of subcontracting trucking firm from outside. Dont be fooled by names like BHL, Sabot, those are from outside Zambia. Just because you have ka small canter you think you can be engaged by Dangote.
Those are not Dangote trucks! Lusambo doesn’t have first hand information. If you want to know more, try and stop any of their trucks where ever you are, and interview the driver/s in confidence.
mwatapa ukubosa. do you produce so called Zambian trucks? he his trying to make the cost of production low so that the product is reasonably priced, ati akasa ingoma amafi. how many trucks have the Chinese contractors brought in and why have you been quite?
If Dangote is Transporting it’s own product it’s fine. Unless if they are engaged in transporting other products from other firms then your crying foul is reasonable.there is absolutely no fuss about the 400 Gonyete trucks .it can be one of there measures to ensure there is no shortage that can be experienced if they happened to be contracting other transporters to haul the product.
One day i was listening to CCPC radio programme were presenter explained that it’s mandatory for business owners to transport there products to far flung areas so that wholesalers,retailers are not deprieved nor have an extra cost of travelling to the locality were such product is produced.Hence we see this being carried out by many other companies like Z.B,Trade kings,cadbury schweppes,pepsi,Zambeef etc…
Very childish article. So you want these thieves-Larfage to continue stealing from Zambians? Without Dangote, this time cement would have been over K150 . Please leave Dangote alone.
Morover, Dangote is transporting his own cement only , he is not interfering in your businesses of transportation. Why should you say you have no business now? What about the business you have been doing all along? Man , you are dull period.
…Lusambo must be told not to jump onto an anthill to pronounce something he has just been told….let him do his own assessment before opening his beak….Just the other day some one was asking what magic Dangote used to flood the market with quality and yet cheap cheap cement….well, there it is…. his own logistics is one of the magic ingredient…
….Lusambo should also query why Airtel….MTN…ZAMTEL are selling their own mobile hand sets depriving so many Zambian traders in that line of business…..
LUSAMBO: PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT THE MAN YOU ARE SO MUCH PRAISING IS FULLY AWARE ABOUT THE TRUCKS THAT DANGOTE BROUGHT IN. AT THE COMMISSIONING OF THE PLANT, DANGOTE MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT HE WAS GOING TO BRING IN 400 TRUCKS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF CEMENT. PRESIDENT LUNGU HEARD IT FOR HIMSELF. AND THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE, IN ADDITION TO HER OFFICIAL SPEECH, READ A BIOGRAPHY OF DANGOTE. PEOPLE EXPECTED THE VICE PRESIDENT FROM NIGERIA TO STATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THEIR NATIONAL. IT WAS SHOCKED.
AT THE CEREMONY PRES. LUNGU DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. ONLY SENIOR CHIEF CHIWALA SPOKE FOR THE ZAMBIANS. IT WAS ALL IN THE NEWSPAPERS. MAY BE LUSAMBO IS INDIRECTLY DECAMPAIGNING THE PRESIDENT.
1. They parked the trucks and not packed them.
2. 400 truck drivers work for Dangote or 400 work for private sector?
Dangote will offer pension for workers and offer them many benefits! private sector will not even give food allowance.
3. Nigera does not produce trucks. THE MONEY CAME FROM NIGERIA TO BUY TRUCKS !!!
4.Dangote will deliver cement to lusaka for K2 and private transporters want k10.
Another sycophant of the old MMD full of Hangover of the “MULI BA KWISA” potent liquor brewed by Kenneth Kaunda’s UNIP Breweries this Lusambo ! God have mercy on us !When are we going to accommodate and Heartly congratulate our fellow Africans of the like of Dangote? how do we consider ourselves more nationalists as if Zambia is only for zambians while we are allowed to do business in other african countries? Once one fellow African glitters among us his nation is brought into gossip as if we were the saints of Africa! This spirit bequeathed by the Kaunda era keep growing from the distaste of t Congoleses,sprung now the phobia for other nationals who outsmart us ! Mr Gaulun who owned most of the eastern part of lusaka. Oh yes ! from the Lusaka airport to the Chelston, all the major…
Ba former Head boy, what kind of reasoning is that?
“How can someone explain the decision to allow Dangote Cement Zambia Limited to bring in 400 trucks into Zambia from Nigeria to start moving its cement? “
The guy is full of nonsense. Dangote Zambia has employment for many people across the country. The 400 trucks have brought benefits to many families. I fail to understand your heartless stance on Dangote, whom you hate just for the sake of cheap publicity which won’t win a parliamentary seat in Kabushi.
That is why the Kwacha will never improve. Our government allowed the Chinese to open their own bank. The way of dodging fees from Zambian banks. The government is sleeping.
Lusambo, stick to what you know. There are only benefits from the 400 trucks. All drivers and mechanics are Zambians and the initiative will ensure low landing price of cement in all corners of Zambia. After all the trucks are not being hired by anyone else, but used solely to distribute cement in the country.
This ***** is on suspension in MMD but he talks using the name while at the same time praising Lungu Nevers Mumba why are you so weak knick this chap out of your party.
His views may be irrational, but he has a right to air them within the party. That’s a tenet of the democratic process.
It sounds weired but this has reduced the cost of transporting cement and hence low cement prices,the winner is a consumer unlike the greedy zambian transporter.
Did this bootlicker ask Dangote why he is bringing in trucks….doing business in Zambia is high and transport sector has been fleecing people for a long time….i’m sure they have worked out that it’s cheaper in the long run to procure their own trucks. If you dont know anything about business…keep quiet or lobby govt to implement policis not dropping names because you’re too lazy.
Some people re full of dullness.it would ve been better of if it was Lubambo Musonda at the center of this article than this charp with a contravening name called Bowman Lusambo.
From those 400 trucks brought in by Dangote it means he has already employed more than 400 Zambian drivers, more than 400 Lory boys, a number of mechanicars and their helpers plus the likes.
So Iwe ci Bowman don’t think that when u give contracts to Zambian firms it means u ve created employments No…..y, the answer is as simplesimple as drinking water:
1.if Dangote was to offer contract to Zambian firms meaning each engaged truck is already occupied by a driver.
2.for that Dangote has brought in new trucks he ll also employ new drivers and co-drivers.
3.those trucks where not registered and where entered…
jealous its poison , while zambian are benefit of cheaper cement , you are condemn the dangote ‘s truck, what a short sighted person ? who is going to drive this truck ? Italian or zambian? the answer its zambian . what is the difference between using own truck or hiring the local truck to carry the cement, and answer its the cost of production will be higher , dangote would not sale at this cheaper, study before u post ..ata say
The Dangote issue is one that successive governments have dealt with exhaustively. All manner of pros and cons were advanced until finally Dangote was given the green light to enter the Zambian economic space. All this small-think platitudes from Lusambo and his cohorts is simply an exercise in daydreaming!
Lusambo,
I have questions for you my brother. Firstly, Why did you allow MMD to import vehicles for campaigns if you are so passionate about empowering Zambians? Dont you think it would have been cheaper for MMD to hire Zambian vehicles from the car hire’s for their campaigns? Secondly, do you know what has happened to GBM’s trucks after he left government? Thirdly, Why have you not stopped Chinese contractors from importing tippers from their country for construction?
such is the thinking of the man aspiring to be pf mp candidate for kabushi!God help this nation. Anyway to me Bowman is no stranger bcoz even his grade 12 results were an emergence toll free No. For the sake of kabushi residents i will post them 2moro. For Bowman this kind of primitive thinking has no room in zambian politics. Zambians have relief from the selfish truckers.Go Dangote Go. Next bring 400 buses. On this one Bowman u havent fired a blank but actually shot yourself.
Kikikiki. ATi emergency number. 999
ubushilu bwapa zambia.uwakumona ifintu ububi nga mwafuma mu power
IN KASEMPA, A POCKET OF LAFARGE CEMENT COSTS K85. MANY POOR FAMILIES CANNOT BUILD HOMES BECAUSE OF THESE EXPLOITATIVE PRICES. TRUCK OWNERS ARE NOT THE ONLY ZAMBIANS WHO SHOULD BENEFIT FROM DANGOTE. INFACT THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND MAYBE MILLIONS OF ZAMBIANS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM DANGORE COMPARED WITH A FEW TRUCK OWNERS WHO ARE INFACT BETTER OFF. TRUCK OWNERS ARE BEING SELFISH HERE. COMPETITION IS GOOD BECAUSE IT BENEFITS THE POOR WHO ARE IN THE MAJORITY. A SIMILAR MISTAKE WWS MADE WHEN GRZ BANNED IMPORTED COOKING OIL. WHAT HAPPENED? A 5L CONTAINER OF ZAMBIAN COOKING OIL SKY ROCKETED TO K120. THE FEW PRODUCERS OF COOKING OIL WERE HAPY, BUT THE MANY POOR ZAMBIANS IN SHANGOMBO WERE LANGUISHING. SO BE CAREFUL WHE YOU COMMENT.
Am starting to like Dangote….now there is no excuse for cement prices to go up! Am certain 400 drivers and I do not know how many mechanics will have jobs! This is real investment. By the way Dangote also generates about 25MW electricity at his plant and only uses 50% of it, ZESCO have failed to draw the rest into the grid!
Comment:pf on dangote step forward ket him bring milling plants we see how thieves in maz will do. ifintu mi lungu 2016
Why should Dangote not take control over its distribution but be compelled to use ZAmbian truckers. should FEDEX and KFC abandon their distribution network and contract Zambian truckers. This nationalistic fervour is going nowhere. Are they hiring Nigerian drivers?
There is nothing wrong with the 400 trucks as actually there are less than 400 drivers waiting to be employed and have bn at the gate for about 2 months now, no jobs. There are Less than 100 trucks running at the moment bring out concerns that the contractor Offshore ltd of Ndola has no capacity to run the freight dept on behalf of Dangote.
Lets not blame Mr Aliko’s strategic thinking , Lets blame Thank you Jesus (Offshore) who is not giving work to already exausted job seekers. We are on the ground and we are seen what is happening here in Chiwala.
I tell u there is no enough media coverage on what is actually happening here.
Come u all znbc, mobi, muvi, sun fm, phoenix, times or dailymail and report what is happening.
THE ONE COMPLAINING IS JUST AGAINST DEVELOPMENT WHY DANGOTE WILL EMPLOY ZAMBIAN DRIVERS,MACHANICAS,ETC USING THERE OWN TRUCKS THEY CAN EXPORT,DISTRIBUTE ACCORDING TO BUSSNESS PLAN.WHY? GO TO SOLWEZI KANSASHI MINE ALL THE TRUCKS CARRYING ZED COPPER ARE FOREGN FROO TANZANIA. IT WILL BE EVEN BE BETTER USING ZAMBIAN TRUCKS SO THAT FROM TANZANIA THEY CARRY OTHER GOODS INTO ZED. ZIMBABWIAN FUEL TANKERS BRING FUEL DONT WE VE TANKERS HERE BUT DANGOTE WANTS TO REVERSE THIS SO THAT OUR COUNTRY BENEFITS ALSO IS THIS HH S ECONOMICS YOU ARE USING? ITS OUTDATED GO FOR A REFRESHER THINGS HAVE CHANGED
I find there is bias because most are leaning towards what the above person may have said. So I will ask from a sustainable perspective. Isn’t it wise to have our own trucks and have Dongote sign a disclaimer that he will use our transportation system? If government were smart they could have bought trucks if we are lacking or have Zambian companies run this business, which can create more jobs and revenue. This is taking jobs away from Zambian’s which is wrong. One last thing is Zambian’s should be allowed to work for Dangote and not have him bring Nigerian’s. This is what we consider “leakage.”
Am one of his drivers and am telling you the man is nice with his dealings, all the drivers are zambians and the people who are involved are also zambians i mean some of the bosses, so if you don’t have the prof in what you are saying please be quite and the other thing appreciate when one is doing fine………no wander some don’t prosper…
The zambian gvmnt cnt pay us adquately, no jobs,just making things/their products expensive, why not allowing Dangote??(this very fine). Zambians we fail to hv our own campanies bkoz low salaries, poor jobs, lets make towns(cikanga bwanji??????
Hehheehhehehe
Maweh, those trucks are in and Zambians are the ones operating them that means more jobs for those who don’t have.
And if you talk local transportation companies in Zambia how many are they and they eligible to handle Dangote’s supplying program?
So far we see these trucks moving in and out like Toyota Hiace local buses.
Don’t just open your mouth because you in opposition trying to mislead some of us.
Coming to ZRA, ZRA is a well organized and works to the best to help develop our nation am sure whatever deal that was made it was on the best interest of Zambia.
Most people I have personally interacted with who are working for this Company are very happy, why want to mess that up with you hatred over the government.
Please leave Dangote alone, we have been duped off our hard earned monies by Chilanga for a long time, it is high time that we have a relief, believe me you we would have been buying Chilanga cement at K130 now if this same Dangote you are blaming over bringing 400 trucks, he has brought more good and zero harm, his intention is to lower the cost of cementy there by allowing or rather giving more Zambians an opportunity to build at lower costs, Chilanga has been forced to reduce there cement, now ask yourself one simple question, there financial quarterly statements show that even after chilanga reduced there cement from about K90 to K56 there about, they still made profits, so in short, am not an economist but this is simple maths that even a simple grade 7 failure will proudly solve…