News and Press

Group Chairman Alex Davis, Christine Davis and the executive team are pictured with award winners at the 75th anniversary. 

It's been a busy period for the D&S Group since the last Newsletter as we celebrated our annual Founders Day that marked our 75th Anniversary as well as holding our annual Mid-Year Strategy Review, an important event in the Group calendar. May also marks the middle of the financial year and I am pleased to report some growth from last year, though many of our markets remain muted as the effects of Covid continue to be felt. It is a most pernicious pandemic that recurs with a vengeance once some progress appears to have been made!

The Founders Day celebration was muted in deference to Covid protocols though in the circumstances was well marked with a small physical gathering at Head Office where the main celebrations were held including presentation of Service Awards, though there was wide participation throughout the Group as all staff logged in virtually, a benefit of the digital age! The various branches then enjoyed a celebratory lunch and several decked out their premises to mark the th 75 Anniversary achievement. Many staff awards were presented that are detailed elsewhere, though I particularly mention the retirements of Joab Mak'Ongul, Joseph Njunguna, Jacob Mbithi and of course Executive Director Dr MAS Waweru who between them had over 100 years of service, all having had exemplary careers making a huge contribution to the creation of the modern D&S. 28 Ten-year Awards and 5 Twenty-five year awards were also presented, of particular mention being CFO George Mbugua and D&S Zambia MD Jonathan Mainga, both of whom have made and continue to make exceptional contributions to the Group.

The Mid-Year Strategy Review was also a success with many good ideas generated. It was held physically at Head Office though virtual meetings have enormously improved communication, especially in these covid times, there's nothing like being physically together! Participating at the meeting were the Group's two new Advisers, who we are most fortunate have join us and make contributions to Board deliberations. They are Prof Bitange Ndemo, a highly respected academic, former ICT PS and noted writer on management topics who will be of particular value assisting with developing our digital presence and Deepak Shah, a longstanding consultant to D&S whose specialisations are finance and family business. They will join long serving Director Mike Eldon, all of whom will help guide D&S in achieving its corporate objectives.

It has been a month of milestones, another one recently marked being the ground-breaking for construction of a new 2000m² Distribution warehouse in Lusaka for D&S Zambia. Not quite the scale of Tatu, but an important development that will substantially contribute to the growth of the Group's Central African business initiated by MD Jonathan Mainga, I look forward to its completion.

I conclude by again mentioning my pride in D&S achieving its 75th Anniversary. Not many organisations achieve this milestone and the Company is now a major regional institution that is Improving Lives through our various commercial and philanthropic activities. However, it is only one step on a long journey and we look forward to making an ever increasing contribution as we continue investing in people and resources for the future.