By John Sheka Tarawalie
The leading telecommunication company in Sierra Leone Orange SL on Thursday 23rd September, 2021 opened its franchise in Zimmi, Pujehun District, Southern Province.
The franchise is to expand Orange facilities and services and to give opportunities to the Zimmi people in accessing Orange products and services.
In her statement, the Orange CEO Mrs. Aminata Kane Ndiaye appreciated the people of Zimmi for gracing such an important event, noting that Orange is there to serve the people of Zimmi because they are Sierra Leoneans who should enjoy opportunities and services provided by Orange.
The CEO added that franchise shops are opening in partnership with community local stakeholders who will be operating the shops to make available Orange products to the community people. She noted that with the opening of the franchise, the people of Zimmi will have access to all Orange services, like buying and replacing Orange SIMs, registering for Orange Money and getting Orange energy through solar system. She said this it not the first time Orange-SL was doing a launch in Sierra Leone as there had been hundreds of such events across the country in the past. She maintained however that it is the first for Zimmi.
According to Orange-SL management, Zimmi is a very strategic location as the Orange-SL franchise would serve as a one-stop shop for the border communities between Sierra Leone and neighbouring Liberia.
Mohamed Lamina Jalloh who is the partner that will be operating the facility said he is delighted that Orange SL is partnering with him to provide services needed by the people
Representing the community, Mr. Ibrahim Sesay, the Principal of Zimmi Secondary School said they are happy as a community to see Orange having a facility in their community, noting that this will help them to not travel to Bo City to get access to Orange products. He assured that the community is ready to work with Orange wholeheartedly in ensuring that the community moves forward in terms of development. He revealed that they have 22 primary schools, 3 junior secondary schools and one senior secondary school in Zimmi. He also noted that they have NPSE, BECE and WASSCE examination centers. He further revealed that the Zimmi Secondary School came 1st in the South in the BECE exams.
The local and traditional authorities and representatives of the security sector in that part of the country including the Police, Military and ONS expressed their profound appreciation to Orange-SL for taking the company’s services to that part of the country. They added that it will not only improve communication with their loved ones inside and outside of the country but would further boost the manner in which they do their financial transactions and money transfers.
The event was climaxed by cutting of the tape and commissioning of the facility.
