Issue 38
OiLibya
Fuelling Growth on a Continental ScaleWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Eddie Clinton Fuelling the growth of its customers, business partners, stakeholders and communities across Africa, OiLibya’s role as a key player in the African energy industry is taking on even more weight in 2016 as its core values of being a truly continental figure sees its physical presence emanate its way across all regions.Now spanning 18 countries, the Company has found a balance between alleviating any sector slowdowns and capitalising on the general economic development seen in much of Africa and - from its Group’s UAE headquarters - continues to drive further into the continent.“Our presence in 18 African countries makes us a prominent member of the communities where we operate, contributing to their economic and social development, and therefore to that of the continent as a whole,” the Company states. “Loyal to its African character, OiLibya strives to be a responsible African Group, operating in accordance with key African ethical values; integrity; honesty and equity.”Now employing a diverse array of 1,500 employees, subsequently generating around 20,000 indirect jobs, and meeting the needs of upwards of 250,000 customers a day, the business also boasts more than 1,000 service stations, eight blending plants, more than 60 fuel terminals and is present in more than 50 airports across the continent; and the business is positive that there is room for even more improvement in the future.“Over the past few years Africa has been experiencing unprecedented economic growth, foreseen to continue, and possibly accelerate over the next decades,” the Company explains. “This has…
Masumali Meghji Insurance Brokers
Pairing Expertise with InnovationWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Callum Philp Focusing on refining and enhancing the already vast experience levels of its staff to bolster a steady performance during the current economic slump, Mombasa-based Masumali Meghji Insurance Brokers Ltd has been able to strengthen and explore growth opportunities at a time when other industry players in East Africa are consolidating.Taking into account the latest industry trends as part of a long-term growth plan, the 35-year-old broker is now keenly interested in spreading its wings and complementing the current head office with additional branches across the region to increase client reach; a feat only possible in-part due to the purchase of the state-of-the-art SofTrends Solutions’ IBMS software in recent years.Masumali Meghji’s Chief Executive Officer, Hasnain Meghji recalls: “Purchasing IBMS has been a vital stepping-stone to growth as it has automated the majority of our work. Furthermore, the software has also integrated and re-engineered the Company’s operational processes. This has reduced costs, increased scale and transformed operational practices, putting us on the highway of growth.”Expert brokersAs one of the largest independent insurance brokers operating in the Coast Province of Kenya, Masumali has built a formidable reputation in the local area, known by a wide variety of clients – namely multinationals, corporates and individuals – for its competitive products and services; spanning private and commercial motor insurance, medical and pension schemes, employee benefits, marine cargo and hull insurance, travel and emergency, personal insurance, construction and engineering insurance, commercial and industrial insurance, political violence & terrorism, and risk management and analysis.“Although our core business is…
Airtel Malawi
Telecoms Right on Your DoorstepWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Donovan Smith The appointment of Charles Kamoto as Airtel Malawi’s new Managing Director at the beginning of March, 2016 marked the start of a new chapter for a Company that is part of the largest mobile network in the world. Having previously established a presence as an internet provider under the guidance of Heiko Schlittke, as part of a strategy involving the continuous expansion of Airtel Malawi’s distribution network to increase market reach across rural areas, Kamoto is now tasked with driving the Company’s strategic leadership in the country; further integrating the Airtel brand within the local community via a targeted focus on the Airtel philosophies of accessibility, affordability and unmatched quality.The second Malawian to hold the position of Managing Director, Kamoto promises to fulfil the above strategy by leveraging his extensive background in telecoms, having previously worked for TNM, where he held the position of Chief Commercial Officer prior to joining Airtel.The legacy left by Heiko has already seen Airtel Malawi begin to expand its 3G footprint to such an extent that the network increased its data penetration rate by almost 100 percent during his leadership. Moreover, other key drivers for growth - including Airtel Money, new customer service shops, an ongoing partnership with Freebasics by Facebook and the launch of Premier Plus - have combined to form the framework for Airtel Malawi’s investments in 2016.Reliable connectivityIn a bid to ensure speedy and stable access to its data services, Airtel Malawi has intensified its 3G site upgrades with the strategic…
RSwitch Limited
Switching to a Cashless EconomyWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Donovan Smith RSwitch continues to fly the flag for Rwanda in bringing the next generation of financing and banking to a country engulfed in the possibilities of a digital revolution.Assigned as the national e-payment switch operator in the East African nation in 2003, the Company was initially established with the vision of running Rwanda’s electronic payment system before expanding to serve as a financial interoperable solutions entity.Driven by the Company’s SmartCash brand which enables electronic payment settlements - as well as interoperability and other financial solutions - the business remains the only fully-fledged player in a niche sector thriving under the influence of digital finance developments; both in Rwanda and for international parties looking to partner in the country.“SmartCash is RSwitch’s local debit card scheme issued by banks in Rwanda allowing customers to make transactions across ATMs, POSs and online,” explains the Company’s Head of Commercial, Jean Claude Gaga. “Our vision is to be able to interconnect all the wireless services in the country through a solution that allows them to communicate; to find a robust solution to implement all these systems and to be able to transact with each other, both in and outside of Rwanda.“Not only are we processing transactions but we are also supporting the different monitoring and maintenance schemes for ATMs in Rwanda as well as offering leasing and advisory services to empower our clients and to get the best return on investment.” This remit over the past 13 years has transpired in building Rwanda’s mobile saturation to…
3M Africa
Regional Restructure Generates GrowthWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Arron Rampling Driven by Africa’s continuous economic improvement, steady population growth and the subsequent emergence of new customers across a diverse range of industry sectors; technology and innovation major, 3M is currently reaping the benefits of restructuring its African business.Having been present in South Africa for more than 40 years and 10 years in the North Africa region – with operations in Kenya and Nigeria following in 2012 – 3M has secured a strong foothold in the healthcare, safety, communication and automotive industries, while mining, oil & gas, consumer, healthcare and energy hold the potential to cement the Company’s future growth. 3M has more than 65,000 products being sold worldwide, serving customers through five business groups and is best-known for manufacturing some of the world’s most familiar brands, including Post-it®, Scotch®, Scotch-Brite®, Filtrete™, O-Cel-O™, Nexcare™, and Command™.A result of strong profits over the past decade in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, the restructuring strategy initiated in 2013 was designed to improve geographic coverage on the African continent and to accelerate future growth. 3M’s operations were divided into two regions - 3M South Africa and 3M Africa – in a bid to leverage and align market commonalities. The latter comprises North, East, Central and West Africa - including Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Francophone countries, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, DRC, Zambia, Angola, Nigeria and Ghana – while the former consists of South Africa and its common border countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.Spearheaded by Walid Feghali, Managing Director of 3M…
HBS Africa Consulting Engineers (Pty) Ltd
Africa’s Engineers of ChoiceWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Arron Rampling HBS Africa Consulting Engineers has spent more than three decades honing its high level of experience and technical knowhow from working in some of the continent’s developing construction markets, to offer uncompromising engineering and construction techniques that are the right fit for Africa.Robert Huff, Managing Director recalls: “When we started out in South Africa in 1987, we embraced the ethos of value engineering in all of our projects and delivered the most cost-effective designs. At that time this approach was novel and hugely successful for us, and consequently we were repeatedly awarded with some of the largest building and civil construction projects of that period.“After showcasing our skills and strong desire to succeed we were appointed by the British Government to expand embassies throughout Africa in 2003.Essentially, we were given the opportunity to show that HBS had what it took to operate in Africa, and was flexible enough to adapt to the varying economic and physical environments without compromising on quality assurance or cost-effectiveness.” This desire to further succeed and the in-depth understanding of the local markets has translated into more than US$500 million worth of iconic developments benefitting from the HBS approach to business on the continent today.“Involved during the initial project planning stage right through to completion, our work can be the difference between viable and non-viable projects; making it crucial that we use our experience of operating in Africa’s challenging environments to produce the best final result possible,” he adds.Flagship projectsSpecialising in consulting, civil and structural engineering, HBS…
Pearl Dairy
Stronger Bones Smarter MindsWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Sammy Wilkinson Pearl Dairy is contributing to a healthier and stronger Uganda as it leverages huge amounts of scientific expertise and innovation to expand the distribution of its infamous LATO Milk branded products across the country and wider region.Established with the aim of applying the best in science and sector expertise to its milk products, the Company’s goal is to provide families with an enhanced nutritional option across its range, optimising a series of technologies and facilities able to process as much as 500,000 litres a day.“Pearl Dairy Farms Ltd. (PDFL) is the Dairy arm of the MiDCOM Group of Companies. With a manufacturing unit based in the Mbarara District of Uganda in East Africa, the intent of the setup was to help the local dairy farmers by generating a constant demand for milk in the region and educate them to adapt to cleaner and more hygienic milk production techniques, and to contribute towards the growth of the dairy industry as a whole,” the Company explains. “With the use of latest milk processing equipment and ultra-modern technology, we strive to serve the society with various milk products such as milk powder, ghee and butter oil, all sold under the brand name - LATO.“The team behind the brand is constantly striving to provide the consumer with an alternative to expensive western brands.”Evolving and developing in line with the latest industry trends since its inception in 1937, there was an immediate vision of the wider Group to become the market leader across the provision…
Lobels Biscuits & Sweets
Bringing First-Class Standards to ZimbabweWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Josh Hyland Lobels Biscuits & Sweets’ prosperous and dynamic history has been a direct result of continuous improvement and monitoring of the latest industry trends in order to shape the future direction of the brand. With more than six decades of manufacturing expertise and an unrivalled local knowledge of Zimbabwean produce, the Company has recently turned its attention to creating engaging and dynamic marketing campaigns to increase customer interaction; taking note of customer feedback and using this information to develop the Lobels brand.“As a result of new appointments in our marketing division, together with linkages to a very talented advertising house, we feel more connected to our customers and can be more responsive to customer feedback which is a crucial determiner for brand success,” explains David Lecluse, Marketing Manager for Lobels Biscuits & Sweets.Synonymous with quality, taste and the wide range of products available on wholesaler and supermarket shelves for generations, Lobels is one of the country’s largest and oldest food producers. Since identifying a gap in the market for biscuit manufacturing approximately 50 years ago, to complement its already booming bread manufacturing business, the Company ceased bread production at the turn of the century to focus on developing the confectionery arm of the business.Supported by passionate branding, and a value-for-money product made from the finest ingredients, Lobels Biscuits & Sweets has now turned its attention to consolidating ahead of a 2017 capital expenditure (capex) plan to expand in existing export markets, as well as penetrate new ones.European standardsLobels has not…
Conlog (Pty) Ltd
Solutions for UtilitiesWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Tom Cullum Conlog is celebrating its 50 year anniversary in style as the South African pre-payment electricity meter Company looks to build upon an already worldwide influence that sees more than 70 utilities reaping the financial benefits of its revenue management solutions.Each day, as many as 3,000 households thrive as a result of the implementation of Conlog’s numerous devices, giving the Company the world’s largest installed base of more than eight million STS prepaid meters; as well as claiming the accolade of the broadest product offering comprising meters, vending, revenue management, maintenance, consulting, training and support.Building such a presence might be expected of a business that’s been in operation for more than five decades, but as any Company would testify, to maintain such sustainable success over such a long period of time is no mean feat, and the now Schneider Electric-owned entity has celebrated the achievement accordingly.“Since the inception of the South African prepayment industry in the late 1980s, Conlog has been at the forefront of innovative solutions that meet the needs of utilities across the world. In fact, the majority of our revenue comes from outside South Africa’s borders,” Dudley Miller, Conlog General Manager, told BizNis Africa in April. “This comprehensive and holistic approach enables customers to reap the full benefit of their investment and ensures sustained success into the future.”Established in 1965 initially as an electronics design Company, the evolution that has taken place since epitomises how successful Conlog has been, not only in adapting its range of products and services,…
National Water and Sewerage Corporation
Water for All: Delivering the PromiseWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Tom Cullum National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has been Uganda’s source of sustainable water provision and delivery since 1972 and is now in the middle of a five-year strategy which will see the Company strive towards its goal of bringing “Water for All”.Doing so for the benefit of “delighted customers” via a “delighted workforce”, the 100 percent Government-owned public utility is mandated to provide both water and sewerage services in urban centres and towns around the country, but beyond this initial remit, the Company has gone to great lengths to ensuring such a provision displays the kind of innovation and sustainability previously unseen in Uganda.Now operating across 157 urban centres and catering for an approximate population of seven million people, such phenomenal growth epitomises this proactive, enriching ethos.“Only two years ago, the Corporation operated in only 24 towns,” NWSC’s Managing Director (MD), Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha highlights. “In line with its Five-Year Strategic Direction, 2013-2018, NWSC has continued to formulate and implement innovative programmes aimed at achieving the goal of sustainable service delivery.“The Corporation is continuously extending its service footprint to more areas across the country in line with The National Development Plan, Vision 2040 and the manifesto of the ruling NRM Government of ensuring 100 percent service coverage.”The Corporation’s desire to increase service coverage across the country has been distilled into its Water for All programme that is being implemented across NWSC-operational areas.Mugisha continues: “Water for All is a pragmatic, innovative and transformational programme designed by management to…
Motheo Construction Group
Leaving a LegacyWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Arron Rampling Known in South Africa for its focus on empowerment, gender equality and quality construction, Motheo Construction Group continues to be driven by the significant national need to fulfil basic housing requirements, while remaining an agile, sustainable and adaptable market player.With almost two decades of experience working in the affordable housing sector, Motheo is often the first selection to win Government contracts as a solid choice capable of meeting construction timelines with the help of local subcontractors throughout the various stages of any given project.“Today, we have more than 80,000 houses in our portfolio; with a total order book in excess of R5.5 billion. Each project sees us go above and beyond Government requirements for use of local subcontractors, initiating skills transfer with local businesses,” says Tim Potter, part-Owner and Director of Motheo Construction Group.The recent shift in Government funding towards South Africa’s infrastructure development - particularly in the transport, communication, road and energy sectors – has seen Motheo bolster this already extensive reputation for Government housing projects with activities in the private sector in order to remain competitive in an increasingly saturated market.A tick in the boxLast year, Motheo Infrastructure Contractors was borne from blue-sky thinking with the aim of generating additional revenue for its shareholders. “Six months into operation and I am pleased to say that we have a significant number of potential orders on the table that could change the face of our business,” says Potter. “Led by likeminded entrepreneur and experienced businessman, Archie Rutherford, the Company is generating…
Lithon Project Consultants
Bringing Hope to People and CommunitiesWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: James Mitchell Lithon Project Consultants has spent much of the past 12 months strengthening its reputation from a geographical perspective as it looked to expand its renowned service provision across both Namibia and South Africa, and is now turning its attentions towards the next five years of growth in line with the philosophies that helped incept the business to begin with.The proudly Namibian Company has long been one of the major industry players across project management, multi-disciplinary engineering, and mining services across both SADC nations, and much of late-2015 was spent further honing this offering via extensive recruitment drives and sector expansions.Lithon’s Managing Director (MD), Frikkie Holtzhausen recalls: “One of the more important success stories is that we have managed to recruit well-qualified and experienced staff in specific divisions, which up to now has been a great challenge due to the scarcity of such people locally in Namibia.“This allowed us to formalise and expand our transportation division through appointing some of the critical staff needed for that sector.”Immediate fruits of the Company’s labours were seen in the attainment of major transportation contracts across both road and railway domains, leading into what is shaping up to be a pivotal year of transformation.“We commenced 2016 with a strategic planning session; re-confirming our focus for the next five years, the core of our business and commitment by us as shareholders towards Lithon, and towards each other as owners,” Holtzhausen says. “This was very constructive and a necessary step as we need to be…
Uganda Reinsurance Company Limited
Placing Trust in Local Reinsurance Writer: Phoebe CalverProject Manager: Stuart Parker Uganda Reinsurance Company Limited (Uganda Re) is a proudly local Company, providing both Life and Non-Life services after starting operations in June, 2013, with a full staff compliment of local workers.Based in Kampala, Uganda Re holds the title of the country’s first and only reinsurance outfit, providing a wide range of services which include engineering, marine, general, accident, motor, agriculture, political, violence, sabotage and terrorism.“With a wide client base including the entirety of insurance companies located in Uganda, we also underwrite risks that spread across the African Continent and Indian Ocean Islands,” explains Ronald Musoke, Chief Executive Officer at Uganda Re. “Presently we are particularly committed to positioning ourselves as a regional capacity and risk solutions provider, working from a platform of our already excellent strategic partnerships with reputable regional and international reinsurers.”The Company has a wide variety of underwriting insurance classes in its portfolio and with that the capacity to meet the high standards required for the industry, while also staying within the boundaries of Uganda Re’s firm values.“We have very strong values in this Company which revolve centrally around reliability and quality, as well as the ability to meet customer’s needs and expectations,” adds Musoke. “It is also important for us to build long-term relationships with stakeholders, particularly due to our predominantly local work and behaving as a responsible and corporate citizen.”Reinsurance optionsThe Company has employed a particularly experienced and dynamic team to take it forward, a factor that has massively influenced the success…