On Friday 12th, Africa’s giant e-Commerce company, Jumia became the first ‘African tech start-up’ to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company floated 17.6% of its shares. The shares are expected to begin trading at approximately 1500 Kenyan shillings.
Besides this great milestone, the scandalous ridden company has continued to face backlash from its customers across African continent.
Jumia Technology a once respected E-commerce firm that has continued to enjoy high dominance in African Market is now facing huge backlash after their CEO Sacha Poignonnec publicly confessed on a live interview on CNBC that Africa do not have enough developers and to that reason, the company does not hire local developers.
While responding to a question as to why Jumia doesn’t hire Nigerian-based developers the CEO had this to say:
“Jumia is completely African. We operate exclusively in Africa and we have over 5000 workers in Africa… but the reality is that there is not enough developers in Africa.”
Jumia’s CEO Sacha Poignonnec says says Africa doesn’t have enough developers that’s why they don’t hire them locally. ? pic.twitter.com/D2wU76lawt
— Dan Riro ?? (@Danfar_) April 14, 2019
Jumia brags of employing over 5,000 employees whom according to reports most of them are just working on a warehouses and not involve in any managerial or system development.
The interview video that has since gone viral, has sparked mixed reaction on the internet prompting a debate among netizens on whether Jumia is as truly an ‘African startup company’ or just an opportunist.
Dear @sachapoignonnec:
This tagline “the 1st African Tech Startup” of @Jumia_Group is a lie & this misrepresentation is deemed fraudulent.
You are a European Multinational penetrating the African market. Please correct your narrative. Do the right thing.
Source: #Wakanda pic.twitter.com/1sZINw28Hy
— Issam Chleuh (@issamchleuh) April 15, 2019
There is an evidence-based data showing @Jumia_Group is not African. I actually know the guys behind it & for them to keep claiming that the company is African is really insulting & making my blood boil. What a nonsense #JumiaIsNotAfrican @africatechie thanks for helping clarify
— Marieme Jamme (@mjamme) April 15, 2019
Jumia technologies is beleived to have been founded by French entrepreneurs Sacha Poignonnec (the current CEO) and Jeremy Hodara, both 38 years old. Each founder is said to be holding more than 2% of the company’s shares.
The companies corporate offices are situated in Berlin, Germany while its engineering is done in Portugal and not in Africa, further proving that the E-commerce firm is solely operating in Africa on market basis and not as a startup.
The reckless comment by the Jumia CEO is a mockery to the African people who have continued to play a vital role towards the success of the pan African online firm.
Over the period CNYAKUNDI.COM has been receiving numerous complaints from various Jumia clients in regards to their products and poor customer service. and packaging.
One Facebook user who sort anonymity explained her frustration to the chief editor of this site following a purchase of an OPPO A3s from the online retailer only to be supplied by a phone that had missing slots as opposed to what they had indicated on their website.
“Hi Cyprian I bought a phone from Jumia but to my surprise my phone was incomplete and trying to return to them they refused to give a complete phone as they had advertised making matters worst their customer care are very rude to customers after purchasing an item from them,, kindly expose to avoid them cheating more people…”- reads part of the complaint.
Well this is not the first time the company is finding itself on the wrong end. Late last year Jumia Kenya was highly criticized for failing to pay up their online marketers popularly known as ‘Jumia Force agent’. The company was further accused of mistreating the very own people who were responsible for handling and dispatching products to clients.
It is absolutely vital that all who oppose this digital oppression come together and shame the white supremacist who rides in to fame by demeaning the African people. Africa a vibrant continent must liberate itself from such opportunist.
