The Solar Panel Shipment Part 2

The rusty door - aka "the ramp" 

The offload commences

Monday morning meant another long sejourn at the MRA as we waited for two officials to become free. Eventually, after stopping off to collect the Tanzanian lorry drivers from their accommodation, we were on our way to the warehouse. We opened up the lorries and the MRA officials inspected and agreed they were happy with the contents. That part was quick enough but it was evident that the actual unloading of the panels wouldn’t be quite that fast. Rather than being individually packed they were stacked together in blocks of 12 on a wheeled pallet and they were incredibly heavy. Now this being a warehouse in Mzuzu rather than on a UK industrial estate there was no forklift, no nothing to assist with getting these pallets from the lorry and into the warehouse. But what there was was manpower as loads of locals sensing the chance of a day’s work were already there and willing to assist. Also what was available was an old rusty door which we identified as suitable for our makeshift ramp. Unfortunately the rust plus weight combination meant that it gave way mid unload of the first pallet and we were left in a dilemma as to what to do. We headed back into Mzuzu to try and find a real ramp… to no avail. Karel continued alone in the afternoon and I was left nervously wondering if when he returned to the warehouse he would find a pallet of smashed panels and no people in sight. I saw him in the evening and was relieved to hear that miraculously all was fine and the panels were safely stowed in the warehouse (apart from 6 that had been damaged in transit –none were damaged in the unload). He explained that when he returned the Malawian workforce had expanded and using pure increased manpower and a couple of logs for leverage they had all been lifted into the warehouse. Mission accomplished.  Sometimes you don’t need technology just good old fashioned muscle.