Chamwe Kaira
Botswana’s minister of transport and infrastructure and co-chair of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) of the Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) project, Noah Salakae, says the railway is too important to fail.
He made the remarks during the recent Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in Maun.
“If the feasibility numbers do not immediately convince financiers, we must not fold our arms. We must innovate, adapt, and build the partnerships that will make it happen,” said Salakae.
The governments of Namibia and Botswana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2010 to develop the Trans-Kalahari Railway.
In 2014, they signed a bilateral agreement for the construction of the 1 500 km line, including coal storage, loading, and other facilities to support economic activities along the route and at its terminals.
Salakae urged technocrats to explore innovative financing options, blending public, private, and development capital, to make the project viable once the detailed feasibility study is completed.
He described rail infrastructure as the backbone of integrated markets, adding that access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could generate jobs and skills to support economic diversification, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth.
Namibia’s minister of works and transport and co-chair of the JMC, Veikko Nekundi, said the project is more than just a railway, calling it a strategic tool to unlock regional trade, create jobs, and stimulate investment across Namibia, Botswana, and beyond.
He welcomed the progress of the feasibility study and called for commitment to its delivery.
“As we will be approaching the next phase of securing private sector investment, finalising financial models and ensuring regulatory and operational readiness, let us remain committed to delivering this project through a transparent public-private partnership that brings value to our nations,” said Nekundi.
The two governments continue to meet bilaterally to address risks and obstacles that could delay the project.
The Trans-Kalahari Railway will link Walvis Bay in Namibia with Gaborone in Botswana. It is designed to support regional trade and growth by providing a cost-effective route for goods, with a focus on transporting coal from Botswana’s Mmamabula coalfields to Walvis Bay.
The plan is to export around 90 million tonnes of coal annually to India and China.
Caption
Minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi.
- Photo: Contributed
