15/06/09

The enviable performance of Toyota Malawi Limited in the year ending March 2009 has seen it beat its sister companies under parent company Toyota Tusho, thanks particularly to its Sales and Finance departments which came out ' best in the group. The country's official distributor of Toyota brand of vehicles also smiled after landing the Golden Award ; from Toyota Motors Corporation, mother company to Toyota Tusho, and the Best Distributor Award after recording huge leaps in the brand sales.

The development means that Malawian Toyota customers would enjoy extra quality service as the parent company would now listen to what Toyota Malawi says, according to Managing Director Rosemary Mkandawire. "The performance will entice the parent company to look at Toyota Malawi in a very special way. They will look at us as very important," said Mkandawire after announcing the awards in Blantyre . "This means that our customers will get more quality service as whatever we ask for from the parent company will be listened to. That wasn't the case in those days because after making proposals, the parent company would look at what we have achieved." Mkandawire disclosed that the company sold an estimated 1,500 vehicles last year, a huge leap from what it had been selling in the previous years. The two departments helped Toyota Malawi floor other Toyota dealers in Africa after meeting targets set in various strategic areas.

The company won the Golden Award for the first time since its establishment in 1964. If it wins the Best African Distributor Award for the next two years, the company would qualify for the Voyager Award. Winning it this year means the company has won the best distributors award for three consecutive years. During the ceremony, Mkandawire also presented awards to four employees — Obed Mkumbwa, Gracium Gomiwa, Andrew Tembo and Aaron Kuombola — who excelled in the diagnostic section covering the engine, chassis and parts. However, the company has been targeted by competitors who apparently send discrediting remarks about some of its products, according to Sales Manager Richard Makondi. "Competitors have been sending letters to our customers implying that the [Toyota] Fortuner is not for Malawian roads, but that brand has not registered problems since its introduction on the market," said Makondi.

In a related development, Mkandawire urged her employees to brace for the global credit crunch, saying none of the employees should be fired if the global mishap catches up with the company. World over, companies are closing down and others are retrenching workers after being hit by the economic contraction, which first showed its signs in the United States. "Companies are closing down and others are going bankrupt. I don't think we will be spared. What is happening elsewhere will have an impact on us," said Mkandawire. "Continue with your dedication to the company and be like a military fighting for survival. Be prepared on how we should take on the situation when it catches up with us." She said winning the awards presented by its parent companies signified Toyota Malawi's greatest achievement and wished no member of staff should be lost even after suffering the credit crunch.

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