Trans Kalahari one stop border gains momentum

Stakeholders will meet in the first quarter of 2010 to discuss the establishment of the first one-stop border post on the Trans Kalahari Corridor. That was the message from Bevan Simataa, executive director of the Trans Kalahari Corridor secretariat, at a meeting in Johannesburg last week. “Feasibility studies have already been completed and we have seen overwhelming buy-in from all the roleplayers and stakeholders,” he told FTW. “Lead agencies have been identified and national committees established to conduct internal consultations based on the recommendations of the study. “At this stage the recommendation we have is that all commercial vehicles stop on the Namibian side and all passenger vehicles on the Botswana side. Already that will increase productivity.” He said there was no doubt that a one-stop borderpost would enhance supply chain efficiency. “Already we have extended the border hours and that has had a major impact. We believe a one-stop border post will enhance operation on this route dramatically,” said Simataa. “The implementation of the SAD 500, a single administrative document between the three countries, has also brought about much harmonisation. This form is now being adopted across the SADC.”