By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
The Pioneer Gate and Skilpadshek border posts on the Trans Kalahari Corridor have extended their opening hours from 22h00 to midnight.
The move follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the development and management of the Trans Kalahari Corridor, signed between the governments of Botswana, South Africa and Namibia.
A meeting held at Maun in Botswana by key government officials of Botswana and South Africa endorsed and directed the implementation of the extension of border operating hours.
Agnetha Mouton, Walvis Bay Corridor Group Business Development Officer, said in a statement yesterday, that the two border posts implemented the two-hour extension from 22h00 to 24h00 last Friday.
The MoU resulted in the establishment of the Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC), which is supported by a permanent secretariat hosted by the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG). The WBCG’s mandate is to focus primarily on the joint development and management of the Trans Kalahari Corridor.
As a result of the MoU and the TKCMC, the customs authorities agreed to the extension of border operating hours at the Trans Kalahari/Mamuno border post, between Namibia and Botswana, which became effective from October 1, 2000 from 06h00 to 24h00.
At that time, the differences in border operating hours between Namibia/Botswana (06h00- 24h00) and Botswana/South Africa (06h00-22h00) restricted the Trans Kalahari Corridor efficiency.
Mouton said transporters leaving Gauteng during the afternoon were not able to arrive at the border before it closed at 22h00.
“This led to truck drivers staying overnight and generating unnecessary costs due to standing costs,” she said, adding that recent implementation of the extension of border operating hours between Botswana and South Africa, has brought the border posts in alignment with each other in respect of operational hours along the Trans Kalahari Corridor.
“The extension of border operating hours at Pioneer Gate/Skilpadshek enhances the already successfully implemented trade facilitation measures such as simplified customs procedures, standardised Single Administrative Document (SAD500), common bond, with the already extended border operating hours at Trans Kalahari/Mamuno border posts which commenced in 2000,” she said.
The Walvis Bay Corridor Group has put its focus on the development of the Trans Kalahari Corridor as the fastest trade route between Europe and Botswana as well as Gauteng markets, via the Port of Walvis Bay.