eBusiness Weekly
Firm has COMESA’s stamp of origin
47pc of components manufactured locally
Kudzanai Sharara
Over fifteen years ago, Bike and Boat Bar launched Southern Africa Matabeleland Industrial Company (SAMIC), a motorcycle manufacturing and exporting company that produces bonafide genuine motorcycles for Africa and the world over.SAMIC consists of a conglomerate of businesses that have merged together to produce the first locally manufactured motorcycle in Zimbabwe.
These companies include United Spring, CT Bolts, King George 6, Bike Bar Coaters, Leofree Tech, Rubber Products, Bike and Boat Bar and Dunlop tyres.
The overall objective of SAMIC is to create jobs and revive industry in Bulawayo.
How did this all start?
SAMIC motorcycles has been a project of Bike and Boat bar for over 15 years and has been assembling SAMIC, from CKD to SKD for sale on the local market.
But the goal has always been to be the first in Zimbabwe to produce a locally manufactured motorcycle.
“Our goal was to be the first in Zimbabwe to produce a locally manufactured motorcycle and this, we have accomplished,” said Robyn Smith, a director with the company.
At least 47 percent of the motorcycle is manufactured locally by a number of companies in Bulawayo that are mentioned above, but the company’s aim in the near future is to locally manufacture 80 percent of the product.
Local manufacturing was, however, not always part of the plan but born out of efforts to get around economic challenges that saw several companies closing shop during the 2006 to 2008 period.
“Through the years of our economic struggles in Zimbabwe, we were unable to purchase parts for SAMIC, in turn we had to make alternative measures, that’s when we found the companies that could locally manufacture specific components for the motorcycles,” said Smith.
These companies include United Spring, CT Bolts, King George 6, Bike Bar Coaters, Leofree Tech, Rubber Products, Bike and Boat Bar, and Dunlop tyres.
In emailed responses to Business Weekly, Smith said the motivation for this project was the people of Zimbabwe, to create job opportunities.
She said the SAMIC project is looking at creating up to 250 000 jobs in Bulawayo and around Zimbabwe.
Surely there must have been challenges
Just like any other local company, SAMIC’s biggest challenge is failure to access foreign currency.
“The biggest challenge for our company at present is foreign currency, says Smith.
“We could do with Government support for the project, to help us create a better future for the people of Zimbabwe by supporting a locally manufactured product,” she said.
Smith also believes, the motorcycles have the potential to compete in the region and beyond and in the process earn the much needed foreign currency.
The company has already obtained a stamp of origin for COMESA and according to Smith, it is the first in Africa to hold such a license.
Smith said SAMIC is an authentic industrial ingenuity project, which operates from two factories located in Special Economic Zones in the Belmont area along the plumtree Road.
“Exporting a locally manufactured product to the COMESA, SADC and EU regions through our stamp of origin, we can generate foreign revenue for Zimbabwe, and therefore help the people and the economy,” said Smith.
