The completion of the Trans- Kalahari railway in 2016 will provide an alternative to the already congested corridors within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and grant landlocked countries much-needed access to European, Asian and American markets, according to a joint statement from the governments of Namibia and Botswana. The US$9.2-billion railway will connect Botswana to the Port of Walvis Bay in Namibia. “The Trans-Kalahari Railway is important to SADC and Africa since it will afford alternate transportation routes for landlocked countries such as Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It will be ideal for the exportation of bulk commodities destined for Europe, Asia and America,” said Botswana’s minister of minerals, energy and water resources, Onkokame Kitso Mokaila. Namibian minister of mines and energy, Erkki Ngmintina, said the recent signing of the Trans-Kalahari Railway agreement provided an “added impetus and a new platform” for people of both countries to lay the groundwork for industrialisation. “It does not hamper existing gateways but creates a path for new and additional role-players,” he commented. The two countries will further consult and engage to assist the technical ministries as the implementation of the project continues.
