Isabel Bento 

SWAKOPMUND – The governments of Namibia and Botswana have reaffirmed their commitment to the Trans-Kalahari Rail Corridor Development Project (TKRP) which has been in conceptualisation since 2010.

The project is envisioned as a transformative regional infrastructure initiative to enhance trade and economic integration in SADC.

Minister of Works and Transport John Mutorwa during the opening of the Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting (JMC) for the TKRP at Swakopmund on Friday, underscored the significance of the meeting in evaluating the progress made since the last JMC meeting held in Kasane, Botswana last year.

He said the TKRP must be fast-tracked to the point of no return and stressed that the Swakopmund meeting should focus on how previous resolutions from Kasane have been implemented.

“The two countries cannot use their public resources to organise a meeting of this magnitude simply to be told why decisions cannot be practically implemented,” he expressed.

The minister further highlighted that the legal framework for the project, established through the Agreement on the Trans-Kalahari Railway Line, was signed in 2014 and called for the full realisation of the project as a tribute to past and present leaders of both nations.

Botswana’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Noah Salakae echoed these sentiments, emphasising that the 1500-kilometre railway project is more than just infrastructure – it is a legacy of economic transformation.

“The most important legacy is that this railway line will transform a fragmented SADC trade bloc into a paragon of inclusivity and prosperity, contributing meaningfully to the socio-economic upliftment of our people,” he said.

He further underscored the project’s role in addressing poverty, unemployment and income disparities, which remain key challenges in the region.

The railway line, he noted, aligns with Botswana’s new Infrastructure Investment Plan, which aims to unlock economic opportunities through infrastructure expansion.

Salakae expressed optimism about the project’s renewed momentum, citing the completion of a pre-feasibility study and the development of a roadmap to guide dialogue and implementation.

The two counterparts also highlighted the public-private partnership model as a crucial mechanism for financing and expediting the project’s implementation.

The railway would play a strategic role in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
-Nampa