By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK With combined earnings of N$1.6-million in a ten-day period in July 2006, Namibian beer and refined petroleum products have been identified as the highest traded commodities being exported through the northern border posts of Oshikango and Wenela. The commodities that raked in N$1.6 million have been identified as Windhoek Special beer and petrol and diesel, according to a recent study undertaken by the Southern African Migration Report (SAMP). The study was done in collaboration with the University of Namibia (Unam) and entitled: “Unpacking Huge Quantities Into Smaller Units: Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade Between Namibia and Her Northern Neighbours.” There is virtually no data or information available on the type, volumes, quantities and the value of goods carried through land border posts by small-scale traders as well as their contribution to national trade statistics on imports and exports from Namibia. Consequently, the study is seen in a positive light, as it outlines the high movement of trade across Namibia’s borders with neighbouring Angola at Oshikango and Zambia at Wenela. It turns out that while alcoholic goods were traded in huge amounts at the busiest border post of Oshikango, petroleum products were leaving the country through Wenela. While most of the Namibian beer gets sold in Angola, especially in the town of Santa Clara at shops and various drinking outlets, petroleum bought in Namibia is the closest source of petrol for countries like Zimbabwe and Zambia. Besides these two main products, other commonly traded goods are electrical appliances which rank second highest at a value of N$449 000, and meat, fish and egg products which rank third in volume and significance, generating exports of N$253 000. These are followed by cosmetic products which featured as high as N$151, 050 and household goods like second-hand freezers and stoves with a value of N$72,627. The study states: “From the estimated value of goods declared, it is clear that cross-border traders contribute enormously to trade, but there are difficulties in measuring their contribution to trade as there are no mechanisms in place to do so.” Business is booming at the borders as in just a space of ten days, an average of 14 276 people crossed the two border posts. The study, in which hundreds of traders were interviewed using the Origin and Destination (O&D) questionnaires, show that although two thirds (82%) of the traders’ journeys originated in Namibia, more than half of them (59%) were Angolan nationals and 34 % were Zambians. In addition, “Only a small proportion of the traders were Namibians (4%), Zimbabweans (2%) and nationals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) stood at only 1%. Interestingly, the study indicates that those traders carrying huge amounts of curios and crafts originate mostly from the Congo (DRC), while Zimbabweans use the Wenela border as an entry point into Namibia. “Most of the Zimbabwe craft carriers cite hostile and unfriendly treatment coupled to the customs duties charged on goods in transit by Botswana customs officials as their primary consideration and reason for using the Zambia-Namibia route,” reads the study. The towns of Swakopmund and Windhoek are the main destinations for these craft traders where they go and sell their goods. Traders from the DRC use Namibia primarily as a transit route to Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa. The study was conducted at the Oshikango and Wanela border posts in July last year.