Angolan specialist guarantees delivery times Logistics infrastructure improving

KEVIN MAYHEW
DESPITE THE common perception of a run-down logistics infrastructure, Angola has improved to the point where at least one clearing and forwarding company is offering guaranteed delivery times for certain categories of cargo.
Jet Park-based Makamba Clearing and Forwarding’s director and owner, Dave Breedt, says that air freight deliveries are now predictable to certain areas within Africa’s oil and diamond rich west coast country.
“Angola has become an attraction, but it has its own problems, particularly when using roads. Most of the roads are terrible and there is also a seasonal element making them unattractive when the rains come. One is left with sea and air to move cargo into the country,” he explains.
Added to this are bottlenecks at the port of Luanda and a shortage of breakbulk transport into the country, so much movement has to rely on air delivery, even for loads which traditionally would have been delivered by road in any other country.
“Needless to say we have become masters of handling large cargoes by air into some very strange places, using facilities that are classified as airports or landing strips and guaranteeing delivery times where possible,” he adds.
At present the company is moving cargo related to the diamond mining and oil industries, construction and machinery, and material for establishing landfills.
Makamba, established just two years ago, has just moved to larger premises. Much of its growth has been on the back of the emerging Angolan market. However, its overborder operations include all the southern African countries.