‘SADC must implement integrated border management’

SADC member states must work
together to implement an integrated
border management framework in
order to fast-track the free flow of trade
in the region, minister of transport,
Sibusiso Ndebele, said last week.
Speaking at the Cross Border Road
Transport Indaba in Johannesburg,
Ndebele said the key challenge was
achieving this within a reasonable
time frame in order to increase the
percentage share of SADC trade in the
world market.
“This will only be possible
when member states comply with
the decisions agreed under the
SADC Protocols and speed up its
implementation,” he said.
He further pointed out that if SADC
planned and implemented all its
Transport Master Plan objectives – that
include the unblocking of regional
corridors effectively – the region’s
aspiration to join the rest of the world in
economic development would become
a reality.
“We have much work to do in the
SADC region to pave the way for
Africa’s Development through transport
integration. Transport is necessary
to ensure that the SADC Free Trade
Area (FTA) launched in 2008 and the
Customs Union will be successful
through addressing delays at border
posts and promoting the free movement
of goods and services across southern
Africa, Zimbabwe-Zambia-Botswana.”
With a combined population of some
260 million and a regional market
worth over US$430 billion, southern
Africa has vast potential for socioeconomic
development.
“However, to achieve this, the SADC
member states need to work towards
developing an efficient, seamless and
cost-effective cross-border transport
network because a thriving economy
depends on a reliable transport base
at both national and regional levels,”
said Ndebele. “With regard to regional
integration some of you will be aware
that at a Summit in 2007 in Zambia,
SADC heads of state and government
hinted that the lack of funds was
one of the reasons for our transport
infrastructure having a backward
knock.”
He said the leaders had since directed
the SADC secretariat to work out a
regional Master Plan for Infrastructure
Development to coordinate and
harmonise all regional infrastructure.