Trucking and logistics
companies have welcomed
the move by the Trans
Kalahari Corridor
Management Committee
(TKCMC) to establish four
new truck stops along the
crucial trade corridor.
TKCMC announced in
a Request for Investment
Proposal document that
it would invest around
R55 million for all four
truck stops, excluding the
value of the land. “Business
opportunities exist for
a restaurant, takeaway
facilities, maintenance
facilities, security services
and fuel service stations,”
a Trans Kalahari Corridor
Secretariat (TKCS)
spokesperson told FTW.
The corridor network
consists of the Trans
Kalahari, the Trans Cunene
and the Walvis Bay-Ndola-
Lumbumbashi (Trans
Caprivi) Corridors linking
South Africa,
Botswana
and Namibia
with each
other and
then on to
Zambia and
Angola.
The four
truck stops
will span
all three
countries.
The
decision
for the new truck stops
has the buy-in of the
governments of all three
participating countries –
representatives of which
make up the TKCMC – and
follows a feasibility study
which shows the viability
of the strategy, the TKCS
spokesperson noted.
He added that industry
had indicated it would
support wellmanaged
and welloperated
truck stops
and that it
was prepared
to pay
for these
services.
A trucker
anonymously
told FTW
that the long
distances
associated with routes
along this corridor
brought challenges such
as driver fatigue, cargo
security and road safety
issues. Managing director
of Kingfisher Freight
Services, Alwyn Nel, said
that the new truck stops
would bring “immediate
benefits” such as added fuel
availability, resting areas
for drivers, safe parking
and controlled access.
“There will also be
economic spin-offs for the
surrounding communities
as small and medium
enterprises will f lourish
as a consequence of the
vehicles and drivers being
on-site,” said Nel.
He noted that this route
was already well utilised
by traders, mining groups
and other stakeholders. “It
will continue to develop
as an alternative to the
South Africa/Mozambique
corridors as it is already
more effective and less
costly than some routes
thanks to less congestion
and fewer border controls,”
said Nel.
INSERT & CAPTION
The Trans Kalahari
Corridor is already
more effective and
less costly than some
routes.
– Alwyn Nel
