Into the TKCS hot seat

Newly appointed executive

director of the Trans

Kalahari Corridor Secretariat,

Leslie Mpofu, brings to the

position a wealth of experience in

the regional transport sector.

Previously a transport

specialist with the Southern

African Customs Union (Sacu),

he worked for the Botswana

government for 17 years, finally

holding the

position of

chief transport

officer.

He has a

social science

degree from

the University

of Botswana

and has also

completed

a Master of

Transport

Management

from the

University of

Sydney in Australia.

According to Mpofu, his

mandate in his new post is well

defined.

“My principals put three

objectives before me. These

are the review of the TKCMC

strategic plan, filling strategic

positions in the secretariat, as

well as ensuring that institutional

structures are developed and are

in place,” he says.

“These objectives are important

for the TKCMC to deliver on its

mandate.”

The challenges faced are

however multifold – among

them harmonisation of customs

and transport procedures

and regulation, safety and

security along the corridor, and

development of strategic alliances

amongst service

providers in

member states.

Inadequate

staffing of the

secretariat

and funding

constraints are

also a concern.

The

engagement

of the private

sector in the

development and

management of

the corridor is a

strong priority, he adds.

“The TKC is a strategic corridor

that is important not only to the

members of the TKCMC but also

to the whole SADC region. It’s in

the interests of all stakeholders

to join hands as we develop the

TKC as an economic corridor

that will enhance socio-economic

development for the region at

large.”

INSERT & CAPTION

The engagement of

the private sector in

the development and

management of the

corridor is a strong

priority.

– Leslie Mpofu