'One-man bands' upset the balance

Transport on a good day is not for the faint-hearted, but in Africa this takes on new meaning. For Lizelle Malherbe of Desert Charm (trading as Botswana Consolidators in South Africa), it’s all about multi-tasking – her phone rings constantly and she deals with multiple queries simultaneously while several containers are being loaded in the yard. Malherbe has been in the industry for many years – the last two working full time in Botswana for Desert Charm. “Transport is a rollercoaster industry at the best of times,” she says. “We are now heading into the Christmas peak season and we hope to see volumes increase, but one never knows as there are so many variables that play a role.” The Botswana environment comes with its own set of challenges. “Small oneman band operations keep popping up and people keep hiring them. They have a major impact on rates, on service delivery and more often than not one of the bigger players gets called in to sort out the problems and to finish the job. This is part and parcel of working in Africa.” For Malherbe it is all about being realistic, consistent in the level of service she and her team deliver, professional and above all else available. “When one is working in Africa you don’t switch your phone off. There are just too many unknowns at play. My drivers know they can get in touch with me any time.” Thinking out of the box, on your feet and quickly is what the job requires. And while many of the challenges – such as slow border operations which often result in long delays of trucks and cargo – continue to be a reality, change is slowly being effected. “When I moved to Gaborone we would have no electricity at least three times a week. The building of a new power station solved that and now we never have load shedding or other power problems. Infrastructure upgrades are taking place all the time. Officials are learning and improving processes all the time. Yes, it is slow going, but it is happening.” And at the end of it all, admits Malherbe, even at its most frustrating it remains one of the most satisfactory industries to be working in – making it all worthwhile. “I would not want to be anywhere else. Africa is where it is happening after all.” INSERT When one is working in Africa you don’t switch your phone off. There are just too many unknowns at play. – Lizelle Malherbe CAPTION Always on the move … Desert Charm’s busy facility.