Unifreight Africa Limited is aggressively pivoting its business model from traditional heavy-haulage dependency toward high-margin courier services, marked by its US$2.08 million acquisition of a controlling 86.67% stake in Cheetah Express.
The transaction, which secures the local franchise for global giant FedEx Express, signals a shift for Zimbabwe’s logistics giant as it attempts to insulate its balance sheet from the volatility of regional freight cycles.
This move comes at a critical juncture for the group, which despite moving 84 million kg of tobacco last year, is seeking to dilute its asset-heavy operational risk with more agile, service-oriented revenue streams.
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The group’s leadership views this expansion as a fundamental evolution of its 80-year legacy, noting that the "acquisition allows enhanced international connectivity and is a significant step for Unifreight, and for Zimbabwean businesses and individuals who need reliable access to global markets."
By integrating a global courier brand into its domestic network, Unifreight is positioning itself to capture the growing demand for cross-border e-commerce and specialized document handling. Management emphasized that "the acquisition introduces a service-based, non-asset-heavy revenue stream with strong margin potential," providing a necessary hedge against the capital-intensive nature of its core trucking operations.
Despite this lean-asset push, Unifreight is concurrently reinforcing its primary fleet with a US$6.5 million investment this year, indicating a dual-track strategy of maintaining market dominance in bulk freight while scaling up its courier presence.
The integration of Cheetah Express is expected to yield immediate operational synergies by utilizing Unifreight’s established Swift logistics network to deepen FedEx’s reach within Zimbabwe.
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