Computers Made in Africa
Several African countries now have local computer manufacturing or assembly plants. Some of the bigger players companies in Africa are explored below
Egypt
Announced in 2003 that they were about to setup and operate a local computer manufacturing plant.
Nigeria
According to an Interview of the CEO of Zinox Technologies in Balancing Act Africa, the total market in Nigeria is about 100,000 PCs as of mid 2004. He says " Yes, it’s incredible but it’s only 100,000. Our share is 25%. HP leads with 30%. Clones sell somewhere between 10-15%. There’s a big grey market with machines brought in from places like the Gulf and that accounts for a further 10-15%. Local company Omatech takes another 5-7%. There are also other assemblers ¬ Beta Computers, Chitech, Login and Pragmatic - but they are all much smaller."
- Zinox Technologies
Set up in 2001, it is a partnership between Stan Technologies of Nigeria, Mustek (owner of Mecer computer brand) of South Africa and Alhena Ventures of France. Zinox assembles PCs, laptops, Servers and UPS systems, which are customized for Nigerian market (e.g. Keyboard has Naira sign). Company has an assembly plant in Lagos capable of 384 systems per day and operates several branch offices in the major cities in Nigeria. Zinox claims several customers in the education, financial services and government sectors. Website can be used to configure and order online ala Dell. - Beta Computers
While a reseller for major global brands like Dell and HP, Beta Computers has also been assembling its own local PC branded "SPEEDSTAR" since 1996. In June 2007, Beta Computers officially opened an "ultra modern" assembly plant in Lagos.
Rwanda
Rwanda has staked its future on ICTs and aims to become a regional ICT Hub. A local start-up company Rwanda Network Computers (RNC) is reported to be assembling computers in Kigali which are sold under the brand "Gorillas". RNC entered into a contract with the Ministry of Education of Rwanda in 2005 to supply 4,000 Gorillas to secondary schools across the country. The company is reported to have already supplied at least 2,100 of these computers to schools.
South Africa
South Africa is home to the continent's leading local computers manufacturers and assembling plants. These include:
- Mecer owned by Mustek Limited has been around since 1987 and is growing its presence in Africa offering desktops, laptops and servers. It is ISO 9001 certified
- Sahara Computers established in 1997 assembles desktops and laptops in South Africa and is ISO 9001 certified.
- Pinnacle Micro establishd in 1993 assembles and distributes the Proline brand of computers
- Rectron- is primarily a computer components distributor started in South Africa in 1995
- Light Edge, South African IT products distributor and technology integrator established in 1993 havs been assembling its own PCs under the Emerald brand and servers under the Ruby and Sapphire brand since 2001
Uganda
Anupam Global Soft Uganda Limited is reported to be operating a US$600,000 computer assembly plant in Kampala