Fences mooted for Trans-Kalahari route

INTERVENTIONS THAT could see improved utilisation of the Trans-Kalahari highway are high on the agenda of transport authorities in Botswana and Namibia. While 80% of Namibian, South African and Botswanan long-distance truckers could use the highway, only one percent is doing so, according to Windhoek’s New Era. The transport ministers of Botswana and Namibia are jointly addressing the under-utilisation and one of the issues in focus is environmental. An agreed condition at the time of construction was that fences would not be erected in order to limit interference with the free movement of wildlife. Motsumi has however suggested fencing along the corridor, according to New Era. A joint Namibia-Botswana commission has been set up to address a string of other problems, mostly related to Customs red tape and bureaucracy.