Namibia and Botswana have pushed back the completion date of the Trans-Kalahari Railway feasibility study by two months, and both countries say the project remains firmly on track and central to regional trade ambitions.

Speaking at Okahandja on Friday during the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) meeting, Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi said the feasibility study which was initially due in April 2026, will now be finalised in June 2026 to allow for completion of essential technical assessments.

“We noted positive progress, but a lot remains to be done. It is important that we collectively do not take our eyes off the dial,” he said.

The Trans-Kalahari Railway is a planned railway line that will connect Walvis Bay to Gaborone.
Nekundi said the project carries enormous regional value, noting that citizens, the SADC Region, and Africa at large stand to immensely benefit from this development. 

“This project has the potential to change the logistics landscape of both Botswana and Namibia,” he noted.

The meeting, co-chaired by Botswana’s minister of transport and infrastructure Noah Salakae, reviewed the progress made since August, including approval of the needs assessment and solutions options report, commencement of technical and engineering assessments, and ongoing engagements with development financiers.

Nekundi said the two countries remain united in their commitment to the project.

“It is our singular duty as the Joint Ministerial Committee to oversee this project until full implementation. All supporting governance structures are functional, and we must give impetus to the processes critical to meeting the project objectives,” he said.

Salakae described the Trans-Kalahari Railway as a corridor with the capacity to reshape regional connectivity.

“This railway is a transformative, multi-commodity regional corridor. Botswana remains committed to ensuring its successful implementation,” he said.

Both countries also welcomed insights gained during a benchmarking mission to Angola’s Lobito Corridor and engagements during the Luanda Financing Summit, where concession models and regulatory frameworks were studied.

The JMC expressed appreciation to the Joint Technical Committee and Joint Steering Committee for their work and encouraged continued diligence as the project advances.
The next JMC meeting will take place in Swakopmund from 16 to 20 February 2026.

-Nampa