“Our biggest improvement over the past year has definitely been our expansion in the DRC,” says Kay Sendel of Dynamic Freight Africa. “It happened almost by accident. A customer got stuck with a load and asked for help and now it keeps on growing. A lot of the freight consists of equipment for the mining industry in Lubumbashi but it also includes commercial goods covering the entire spectrum from food and health products to pots and pans. Virtually everything that is required for everyday life,” Sendel explains. He notes that although dealing with the DRC is obviously very rewarding, it has its ups and downs. The road conditions are very bad, it is virtually impossible to find spare parts and customs is extremely challenging. “There is a fair amount of bribery which is unfortunately is the name of the game up there, but it is improving. The size of the mines give them authority to negotiate with the government so it is the on-the-ground bureaucracy that is the real problem. You can almost call it more of a ‘facilitator’ than a bribe so you spend US$100 here and there to facilitate the movement of your trucks,” says Sendel. “You do venture into the unknown when you go into the DRC. There is a different culture and language and you even drive on the different side of the road. A lot of people are too scared but that is a good thing as it opens doors for those of us willing to take the chance,” Sendel concludes.
