The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, in collaboration with TransNamib and Windhoeker Maschinen Fabrik (WMF), has revealed the latest addition to Namibia’s infrastructure with a newly commissioned rail siding yesterday in Windhoek.
This siding is at the WMF premises to make the moving of goods easier.
A rail siding is a short railway track beside the main tracks, where engines and carriages are left when they are not being used.
WMF, now under the ownership of the defence ministry, following a Cabinet resolution, has been entrusted with a multifaceted role.
The company is mandated to engage in manufacturing, engineering, research and development, as well as providing training and technical services across various sectors.
Defence minister Frans Kapofi highlighted the company’s significant capabilities, like its fully-fledged assembly plant, dedicated to manufacturing military vehicles for the Namibian Defence Force.
Notably, WMF has previously undertaken assembly projects for diverse sectors, including agriculture, showcasing its versatility and commitment to serving various national needs.
“WMF has had a longstanding relationship with TransNamib Holdings Limited, dating back to the early 1990s. During that time, we successfully collaborated on urgent part-manufacturing and service revival projects,” the minister said.
Building upon this previous success, the management of WMF proposed an agreement to further solidify the mutual relations and business partnership.
Under the proposed agreement, both parties will establish a dedicated technical team for various aspects of design, manufacturing, assembly, repair, refurbishment, servicing, metal fabrication and all mechanical works and parts.
“This team will ensure a sufficient supply of parts, timely delivery and maintenance of wagons, locomotives and spare parts,” he said.
TransNamib acting CEO Webster Gonzo said TransNamib has moved 80 tractors to the Ohangwena, Oshana, Kavango East and West, Erongo and //Kharas regions in the last two weeks.
“This is a demonstration of TransNamib’s capability to move such machinery as well as other heavy equipment. With the commissioning of this siding, we will be able to move military goods and hardware from here to any base countrywide in a cost-effective manner,” he said.
Gonzo thus called upon all State-owned enterprises and the private sector to enter into similar arrangements as they have done with the WMF to ensure all trucks are removed from the roads.
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