UniCarriers donated the two-tonne diesel-powered DL20 counterbalance fork lift truck to support Transaid’s partnership with the Industrial Training Centre (ITC) in Lusaka, the only government-backed technical and vocational training institution in Zambia.
Lloyd Mbasela, executive director, ITC, says, “We are naturally very grateful to receive the UniCarriers fork lift truck, which we will use to help train more than 350 people on the safe and effective operation of materials handling equipment in its first year.
“The fork lift will also help empower both younger people and women in skills training, which will increase employment in the industry and household revenue generation.”
Transaid has been working with the ITC for more than 10 years, with the initial aim of reducing road fatalities – which across sub-Saharan Africa are third only to deaths from HIV/AIDS and Malaria. The project started by offering PSV and HGV training, and later added fork lift training due to demand from companies, and most critically, Zambia’s National Medical Stores, home to the medicines for all 17 million Zambians.
Chris Bates, sales director UniCarriers UK, says, “Fork lift trucks play a major role in loading and unloading freight across the country, and we are proud that a UniCarriers fork lift will be leading the way in operator training in Zambia. We are confident this new asset will ensure the ITC can increase its training capacity and continue to deliver quality training for many years to come.
“It’s arrival into service marks a huge safety boost for people who want to work in this sector, with potentially hundreds of new operators now able to be trained to international standards every year.”
Caroline Barber, chief executive of Transaid, says: “We are extremely grateful for UniCarriers’ generous donation and its continued support. This brand new fork lift will help to train the next generation of drivers and materials handling operators, with a focus on safety at work and understanding the need for regular servicing and maintenance.”
