‘Hands-on’ representation makes the difference in cross-border trade

ALAN PEAT THE ESSENCE of efficient cross-border transport is to have representation in most of the major towns in the destination states and border posts in the region, and a “dedicated hands-on” approach to controlling traffic flow, according to Mark Gunther, group MD of Manica Africa. This has been achieved, he told FTW, by Manica developing its own network of branches throughout the neighbouring states of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – and partnership agreements in Namibia and Mozambique. It has representation in 39 of the main towns and border posts in this southern African network. “The way we have developed our company is to be able to provide total logistics solutions for traffic transiting to-and-from sub-Saharan Africa,” Gunther told FTW. The company is now managing the movement of well in excess of 5-million tons of cargo a year, represents over 50-shipping principals, and attends to more than 800 ships every year.