Dangote Cement has fired its Quality Manager after the company’s product failed the Zambia Compulsory Standard Agency tests.

Dangote is one of the major manufacturers of Cement in the country with a countrywide influence on the price of the commodity as it has outlets in all corners of the country despite the plant being based in Ndola on the Copperbelt.

A source from Zambia Compulsory Standard Agency has revealed that in mid-December 2019, ZCSA conducted some compressive strength tests for 2 and 7 days respectively but that the results for the two tests were what he called “zero”.

He explained that the results have led to the relieving of Raavi Venkataswamy who was the Deputy Quality Manager off his duties.

“Zambia Compulsory Standard Agency as the institution charged with the responsibility of ensuring the public does not get substandard goods regularly carries out tests to ensure that goods on the market are of the recommended standard and in mid-December, we did our test on Dangote Cement,” the source said.

“We did two tests and the results on 2 and 7 days of the quality of cement Dangote is producing is not up to standard. The results on the tests we did were zero. Usually, the results at 2 days are 16/18mpa and at 7 days 28/32mpa that is for 42.5 types of cement. The manager was fired immediately. We were told to keep this as a secret so that Dangote can normalize the situation but I thought I could help somebody out there who is constructing.”

The source has further revealed that Dangote cement company has started recalling some products suspected to be compromised.

The source stated that two trucks each of 600/bags were returned on Thursday last week because of quality issues.

The source said there is widespread panic within the company as management fears that the company might lose the good reputation it has built with its clients over the years which will lead to loss of business for the company.

Efforts to get a comment from Dangote failed by press time.