Africa-Press – Botswana. One-Stop Boarder Posts (OSBPs) are people-centred developments meant to promote efficiency and provide benefits for countries by reducing the time and costs of crossing the border.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) representative, Mr Bruce Winston, said during the community sensitisation and stakeholder engagement meeting at the Old Kazungula ferry docking site on Thursday that there were about 100 such facilities across the African continent.
“With this model, you just have to stop at one side of the border for formalities and procedures,” he said this concerning the colossal US$259.3 million worth and 923-metre long bridge commonly referred to as the Kazungula Bridge.
The bridge, which meanders its way majestically above the mighty Zambezi River, sits at the quadri-point of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and was financed by the governments of Botswana and Zambia with co-financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and JICA.
The bridge has been touted as a game changer for intra-trade as it transcended the SADC region to the end that JICA has taken it upon itself to focus on the soft aspects of the projects, such as improving border operating procedures, capacity building, the private sector, community sensitisation workshops, as well as reducing the time taken to cross the border.
All of these, he relayed, were meant to increase border crossing efficiency and improve relations with the community.
Botswana Unified Revenue Services’ Ms Lydia Magama said the Thursday mission was meant to bring services closer to the people by way of explaining in simple, understandable language the services rendered by different agencies operating at the bridge.
“Today’s exercise is also meant to obtain feedback, solicit ideas for our operational improvement, and make a yardstick that will provide a guide for similar future projects,” she said, commending JICA for leading the community sensitisation initiative.
She also conveyed apologies to the Chobe community and the trading community for engaging them after the commencement of the operations of the border post, a mistake he blamed on the advent of the COVID-19 scourge and the curfews that came with it.
“Though it seems late, this exercise is still relevant, and it is better done than never.
Re Dumela mo morerong le gore tsotlhe re ka di kgona ka kemo-nokeng ya lona, which is why, as our stakeholders and customers, we hold you in high regard as you are the pillars of our success,” she said.
Kgosi Sabata Makhanga of Kzungula was happy that the community had finally been given a platform to engage with officials since the opening of the facility in May 2021.
He said Kazungula one stop border post had certainly reduced the time taken by travellers and goods to cross to either side of the border.
Various government agencies, among them the Botswana Unified Revenue Service, Botswana Police, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, and Department of Veterinary Services briefed members of the public about their services.
Attendees appreciated efforts made by the facility management to reach out to them with a view to making them appreciate the operations at the border post.
They were, however, not amused by the fact that although the people from the Zambian side of the border were allowed to walk up to the Botswana side, the same treatment was not accorded from the Botswana side, something the police said was done to ensure the safety of the people.
They were also asked to remain hopeful, as there were a lot of behind-the-scenes negotiations on the matter.
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