By Gift Danga
Lafarge Zambia has launched a depot in Solwezi to provide convenience of purchase for resellers and end users in North Western Province. The launch was officiated by the Provincial Minister Hon. Dawson Kafwaya, MP who was represented by North Western Permanent Secretary Mr Amos Malupenga. Also in attendance were the Mayor of Solwezi His Worship Ezekiel Mulonga, His Royal Highness Chief Mumena, Lafarge Marketing Director Kaziwe Kaulule, Lafarge Supply Chain Director Phoebe Musonda and the Synite Quarries Chairman Dr Mulenga.
The Provincial Minister congratulated Lafarge for opening a depot in Solwezi and for merging victorious at this year’s Trade Fair. In a speech read on his behalf by the North Western Permanent Secretary Mr Amos Malupenga, Hon Kafwaya said “I take this opportunity to congratulate Lafarge for taking this step in the development of the business in this province- I read that you won many prizes at this year’s International Trade Fair in Ndola. This is testimony of your innovation and commitment to the construction industry in Zambia. Well done.”
Hon Kafwaya was pleased with Lafarge’s six specialised application products for every job which he described as important innovations considering the evolution of the construction industry. He urged the Lafarge team to spend a little more time to educate the customers on their application as they buy these products. The Government also called on the need for transporters to observe health and safety rules as they use the roads.“ I call upon the drivers to observe Road safety as they embark on the delivery of products to the depot. I further call upon the private sector to work with the Government to help reduce risk of road transport accidents,” Hon Kafwaya said.
Speaking at the same event Mr. Kaziwe Kaulule the Marketing Director of Lafarge said Lafarge’s goal was to conveniently provide the Zambian market with building materials and construction solutions by opening depots across the country. He said “Lafarge will continue to put in place systems and best ways of serving customers because customer satisfaction is what drives us. Our target is to make sure that we open a depot in every province to help our customers to easily access the products we offer.”
Mr Kaulule further assured the people that the depot would be operated according to the Lafarge Health and Safety Standards and the company had put in place a strategy to help drivers safe delivery of the product to the depot.
At the same event his Royal Highness Chief Mumena thanked Lafarge for opening up a depot in his chiefdom as it was going to help foster infrastructure development.
Synite Quarries Ltd Chairman, Dr Mulenga said that the partnership with Lafarge would help create employment in the district.
The Newly opened Lafarge Solwezi depot has a capacity to store 4,500 tonnes of cement and will be the fifth Lafarge depot in Zambia among others held in Chipata, Livingstone, Ndola and Kasumbalesa.