Gary Naidoo

The South African supplier of information, communication and digital lifestyle technology entered into negotiations with the Mozambican government some years ago to establish a 3000-unit per month PC manufacturing plant.

This negotiation process culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Sahara and the Mozambican government in 2007, under the auspices and joint cooperation of the Mozambique Information & Communication Technology (MICT) organization.

The manufacturing plant will focus on the production and distribution of both desktop PCs and notebooks.

The intention, says Gary Naidoo, deputy managing director at Sahara, is to have the 5000m² ICT and component distribution plant serve as a primary supplier of digital infrastructure and PC equipment to the region.

Whilst this is a joint initiative based on a partnership between Sahara and the Mozambique government to bolster access to PC infrastructure to developing market segments, the computers that are being produced will carry a different brand name.

“Our involvement in this sizeable project is to invest in the establishment, growth and sustainability of information, communication and digital lifestyle technology with Mozambique. It is fitting that personal computers produced should carry the brand Dzowo, a name that is widely acknowledged for its reference to influential leadership of the country, that which helped to shape its direction and growth,” says Naidoo.

Sahara Holdings, in conjunction with MICT, has identified a number of areas that will benefit from the solutions provided via this plant. These areas include government, education and the local corporate sector, with a strong focus on ICT and telecommunications development.

The plant is expected to meet specific requirements from a broad spectrum of users including universities, secondary schools, local business and the government.

Authorities anticipate that the venture and large-scale project will also assist in addressing a number of key socio-economic objectives such as job creation, skills development and transfer, training and business development.

“In the long term, the core focus is going to be the development of local business and entrepreneurs through the creation of dealerships and re-sellers throughout Mozambique. We will also explore the possibility of expanding capacity to export products to neighbouring countries,” adds Naidoo.

[29 Aug 2008 12:09]

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