The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) has confirmed that its efforts to increase border harmonisation with other corridor countries are paying off, boosting the speed of freight shipped across its boundaries with neighbouring countries such as Angola, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana. Its transit time with Botswana – generally about 30 minutes – still ranks among Africa’s fastest cargo crossings, and if existing delays at the Kasumbalesa border between
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia are significantly eased, the group’s Lubumbashi-Ndola copper belt corridor could very well become one of the continent’s best freight lines. Answering a question about customs harmonisation, particularly about the allimportant role it will play in the continent’s ambitions to become a free trade zone across the 50 countries that have endorsed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, the WBCG’s acting CEO, Clive Smith, said a progressive, hands-on
approach would be taken with regard to all possible impediments to the easing of cross-border transits. “Whether it’s veterinary services and specifications, policing, or any unforeseen occurrence that could possibly affect the speed with which goods pass through borders, at the WBCG we get
personally involved.” Overall, said Smith, the group’s efforts had resulted in some impressive shipping times, rivalling and sometimes even surpassing Durban’s north-south line with the DRC. In addition, he said, the six days that it takes Walvis Bay to move freight to the DRC and
back – compared to Durban’s 11 days – comes with the same amount of reliability and efficiency. Consequently, given that Walvis Bay is closer to Europe compared with South Africa’s east-lying markets, the WBCG is hoping that its efforts at convincing European shippers to consider the speed of its
corridor, will pay off. Remarking on his country’s strong customs arrangements with Botswana, Smith said “it takes 48 hours for cargo moving through Walvis Bay to reach Gauteng.” And, as Namibia’s flagship port readies itself to take into service a new, upgraded container terminal, possibly by August, Smith has embarked on an aggressive marketing drive to persuade Brazil, a major emerging-market consumer of copper, to buy into the benefits of Windhoek’s accelerated logistics momentum. But linkage issues remain. Primary among these is Namibia’s rail infrastructure. However, depending on the outcome of a feasibility study that the WBCG has embarked on, the line may be extended from Grootfontein through to Zambia. “That’s a link of about 750km, which will obviously be very costly. But our
government is serious about upgrades on the line north-east from Walvis Bay.” As for similar rail improvements into South Africa, Smith said Namibia was well aware that the only track currently crossing his country’s southernmost border is from the Port of Lüderitz. As such, Windhoek is considering how to improve its rail services into South Africa, possibly increasing bulk cargo shipped through Namibia to Gauteng. Such a comprehensive cargo offering – fast road freight via the Trans-Kalahari Corridor and bulk via enhanced rail linkages – might result in Namibia’s expanded logistics being seen as a threat by his South African counterparts. Smith though is unfazed. “We’re not trying to compete with countries like South Africa. We’re looking at our role in the wider SADC region.”
We’re not trying to compete with South Africa. – Clive Smith
