'Not an easy market'

Botswana’s transport industry continues to battle the effects of the economic downturn with many operators struggling to compete with cross-border operators. “It is not an easy market,” said Neville Lucas, general manager of VTH Heavy Haulage in Botswana. “There is a lot of competition from less reputable operators that drive rates down as well as from crossborder operators who are stepping into our market arena. Then there are the big multi-nationals that one also has to contend with – all in an economically depressed environment.” Transporters in many instances have yet to reach the rate per kilometre that was charged as far back as 2008 – prior to the global economic crash. According to Kevin Lees, managing director of VTH Heavy Haulage, mining continues to offer the big opportunities thanks to significant mining expansion.