Unifreight shifts focus towards cross-border

Published: 18 August 2025

Transport and logistics group Unifreight Africa Limited (Unifreight) has reduced its reliance on the less-than-truckload (LTL) business from 87% of revenue in 2021 to about one-third in 2025, as the company shifts focus towards cross-border and fourth-party logistics (4PL) operations.

The LTL segment, which consolidates smaller consignments from multiple customers into shared trucks, has traditionally served Zimbabwe's retail sector. While still a core business, Unifreight is now prioritising regional cross-border transport — which generates foreign currency — and 4PL services, which cover full supply chain management for clients, from planning and coordination to warehousing and customs clearance.

Group chief executive officer Richard Clarke said the strategy was designed to strengthen the company's resilience in a challenging operating environment.

"In 2021, approximately 87% of our revenue came from the traditional less-than-truckload segment, a concentration that posed sustainability risks through high exposure to the Zimbabwean retail market. By 2025, we have successfully reshaped our revenue mix," Clarke said in the firm's financials for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Despite its reduced share of total revenue, the LTL division still grew by 10% compared to 2021 levels. Clarke said the business was being modernised with a customer-facing mobile application, set to launch in Q4 2025, to allow instant quotes, real-time consignment tracking, and pick-up/delivery management.

"This digital platform is expected to enhance customer experience and loyalty in our LTL and courier segments," Clarke said.

Unifreight expects its revenue to rise by more than 30% to the equivalent of US$32 million (ZiG856,96 million) in 2025, supported by a 30% increase in turnover during the first quarter.

The pivot comes against a tough financial backdrop. For the year ended December 31, 2024, Unifreight's revenue fell by 29,06% to ZiG743,98 million, while profit after tax dropped sharply by 53,05% to ZiG343,51 million.

Total assets rose slightly to ZiG1,9 billion from ZiG1,85 billion a year earlier, but liquidity remained tight, with the group holding ZiG1,07 for every ZiG1 of short-term debt.

Looking ahead, Clarke said the company's growth will be anchored on regional expansion.

"Key strategic objectives for the coming year include growing our regional presence through further cross-border route expansion, scaling up 4PL volumes, and reinforcing our dominance in the LTL and express courier space, not just locally within Zimbabwe, but regionally as well," he said.
"Our vision is to offer end-to-end logistics solutions that rival the best in the industry, driving sustainable growth and value creation for our shareholders."
- newsday

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