Ecommerce is definitely growing in Zimbabwe which is a good thing. The number of eCommerce startups is rising and people’s appreciation of eCommerce is also rising. There are still several areas that need to be ironed out to improve eCommerce in Zimbabwe. One of those areas is postal reliability which is currently ranked at zero for Zimbabwe. Ecommerce players have to be more serious about that area because it is the backbone of eCommerce. In this article, I shall list some of the courier options available to eCommerce retailers in Zimbabwe.
DHL
DHL is one of the industry titans when it comes to courier services globally. They have a presence here in Zimbabwe and you can find out more on their website here. For inquiries on DHL express products and services, such as express document and parcel shipping or their time and day definite express services, there is a form you can complete on their website. You can also simply give them a call on +263 867 770 0120. This can be your all in one partner because they cater for a global market.
Unifreight Africa
Unifreight Africa is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. You can find out more on their website here. Under Unifreight Africa there are 3 brands namely, Swift, Bulwark, and Skynet Worldwide Express. I will detail more on Swift that most of you are familiar with:
Swift
Then we have Swift which offers a wide range of services other than courier services. Swift offers 6 distinct services guaranteeing a full offering for all transport requirements ranging from 0.1 kilograms up to as much as 34 tonnes. This is also another all in one partner because their service range spans from shipping to freight, transport, and courier needs. Some of their core packages are Action Pack (sealed strong plastic packs), Super Pack (sealed moisture resistant cardboard boxes), Swift Unicooler (insulated temperature controlled mini container), and Swift Rolltainer (mini lockable container). You can find out more on their website here. You can also call them on +263 867 700 0777 or WhatsApp on +263 773 799 477.
FedEx
FedEx is yet another global brand that has its presence in Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe, FedEx is represented by a nominated Service Contractor. If you want to know more about FedEx services in Zimbabwe you can contact Supaswift Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd. FedEx has several offices in Zimbabwe namely in Harare (two branches in Milton Park and 4th Street), Beitbridge, Bulawayo, Chiredzi, Gweru, Kadoma, Kwekwe, Marondera, Masvingo, Mutare, Victoria Falls, and Zvishavane.
Zim Post
Zim Post has several services, some of them online and quite interesting. For instance, they have what is called ZipCash, which is a service whereby you can track and trace your money transferred through their postal network. Then there is also ZipFound, which is a service that enables you to track your lost and found items maintained in their database which includes tagged keys and drivers licenses. Anyways, they a Post Pack Packaging which is a prepaid, secure plastic packaging appropriate for conveying documents and other small items. They also have a Parcel Service which is meant for a packaged item weighing no more than 30 kilograms each. You can contact them via email at enquiries@zimpost.co.zw or you can call on +263 242 783 583-94 or 0800 4249/9101.
Cheetah Express Logistics
They are a licensee to FedEx Express – have been for over 20 years. They also represent TNT in Zimbabwe. They are into courier, freight forwarding, and customs clearing spaces. They are also the Cargo General Sales Agent for Rwandair and the Cargo Sales Agent for Ethiopian Airlines. In Zimbabwe, they handle over 126 000 shipments annually. Their courier services include special handling, repacking of fragile goods, medical supplies, and oversize goods. They also have road freight services from Johannesburg, two rotations weekly to Harare. You can call them on +263 8644 20 20 20 or email on contact@fedexzimbabwe.co.zw. They are also on WhatsApp at +263 784 445 572.
Merchant Couriers
This is an online delivery booking platform for sending your parcels, freight, or furniture anywhere in Zimbabwe. If you have a freight truck looking for loads you can sign up with them. This can apply even if you have a car, van, or motorbike. You can go to their website here. You can also call them on +263 779 495 409. Booking your delivery is quite simple. You go to their website, choose delivery type, enter booking details (you get an instant quote in USD or ZWL), confirm your booking, pay for your booking, then you get delivery notifications.
Thumeza
They have 3 main logistics services namely, in-house solutions, large scale logistics operators, and informal operators. They use their flagship service called Intransit with which they coordinate the movement of loads and supply of transporters. You can go to their website here. Alternatively, you can email hello@thumeza.org.zw or call on +263 773 265 854.
Over Night Express
They are one of the leading freight and courier service providers in Zimbabwe. As the name suggests they do overnight deliveries every day of the week except weekends. They carry anything from 1 gram to 30 tonnes to major destinations in Zimbabwe. You can email storesandit@one.co.zw. You can also contact them on +263 774 421 088, +263 774 421 120, or +263 774 419 134.
Koki delivery
This is an outfit that makes delivery simple. Offering delivery to anywhere in Harare at a flat fee of US$3. They are working towards building a national distribution network. They offer the service to those who use their online store for selling their products as well as the general public. You can find out more about Koki delivery on their website and +263 787 907 348.
These are some of the courier options that eCommerce retailers can use in Zimbabwe. These retailers must streamline their delivery framework because that is a pillar of eCommerce. If you are not properly doing deliveries then it is a tall order to grow the business. So take some time to explore these 8 options and see how best you can put together your delivery system.
