By:Fransina Nghidengwa
Namibia and Botswana on Saturday launched the 24-hour operation at Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno border posts, which is expected to boost trade between the two countries.
Speaking at the launch event, Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Albert Kawana highlighted the benefits of the new policy for the business community, stating that the new policy will eliminate the need for truckers to sleep at the border posts, ensuring goods and services are delivered on time to consumers.
The Trans-Kalahari Corridor is a crucial route for trade between the two countries, and the launch of the 24-hour operation is expected to increase volumes passing through the corridor, Kawana said, calling for better coordination among stakeholders involved in the operation of the border posts.
Kawana emphasised the need for a seamless operation, saying that trucks should be cleared speedily as soon as they arrive regardless of the time they arrive.
In February, the two countries signed a memorandum of agreement allowing the nationals of the two countries to use national identity cards for cross-border travel between the two countries.
At the same time, the port of Walvis Bay presents an opportunity for Botswana to have access to sea transportation, cutting down on the turnaround time for both the imports and exports.
Thus far, 214 Namibians and 525 Motswana have made use of identity cards as travel documents through Trans Kalahari /Mamuno Border Posts between 24 February and 27 March.
“I believe that the move will have tremendous economic benefit to both countries, and the business community will be able to conduct business on a 24-hour basis,” Kawana said.
He said the decision to have the border posts operate 24 hours is in line with Namibia’s ambition to become a logistic hub in southern Africa.
“It is therefore the hope that the volumes passing through the Trans Kalahari corridor will increase,” he said.
Botswana is one of Namibia’s largest export markets. In 2021, exports to Botswana amounted to N$8.6 billion, an increase from the N$7.5 billion recorded in 2020.
Minister Kawana said the strategic location of Trans-Kalahari/Mamuno border posts allows the two countries to promote trade relations, at the same time costs to the business community will be reduced because of shared facilities, encouraging the private sectorto invest in the latest logistics technology along the corridor.
“Time has come to leave conflict behind and concentrate our efforts in growing our economies for the benefit of our people,” he said.
Omaheke Regional Governor Pijoo Nganate said the 24-hours’ operation of the Trans Kalahari/Mamuno border post allows access aimed at enhancing the socio-economic development of communities.
“It should thus propel development and encourage trade, foster cooperation and strengthen the existing ties between our two nations,” he said.
Nganate urged the tourism industry on both sides to create an environment that will ensure that both nationals can access facilities at favourable rates.
“It is thus evident that they continue to bolster trade and cooperation between the two states, they have somewhat embraced the practices of yesteryear, which encouraged and allowed access and if it is not the groundwork set for a united Africa then what is it?”
Botswana’s Minister of Finance Peggy Serame said the launch of the 24-hour operations for the port is aligned to the aspirations of the memorandum of understanding signed between Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, on the development and management of the Trans- Kalahari Corridor, along which the Mamuno/Trans-Kalahari border posts are located.
She further said that the corridor serves as a gateway to and from international markets, therefore such initiatives like the 24-hour operation of the border post will give it a competitive advantage and make it a corridor of choice in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
On average, imports to the value of P15 billion (N$20 billion) are processed annually at the Mamuno border post and 8,800 commercial trucks carrying cargo across Mamuno/ Trans Kalahari border posts are facilitated on average monthly basis, Serame said.
“It is therefore expected that the transition into 24-hour operational basis will drive economic growth and increase the number of trucks and goods coming through this route and hopefully, a reciprocal increase in revenue generated from such movements,” she said.
She further said plans are already underway for the establishment of a one-stop border post at the port of entry in the near future and all the efforts are geared towards facilitating seamless flow of goods across the borders, and are expecting positive impact on the social and economic activities and the lives of people of the Omaheke region and Charles Hill district.