Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana’s efforts towards infrastructure development are intended to deepen regional integration through creating a conducive environment for seamless movement of people, goods and services.
Speaking at the official launch of the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) 12th Joint Law Enforcement Operation (JLEO) at Sese junction on Thursday, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale said the government continued to invest in improving road networks in an endeavour to promote economic activity within the region and beyond.
He said providing alternative routes would also go a long way in easing congestion on the main roads such as the TKC, thereby reducing the rate of road accidents.
He said in addition to the Trans Kalahari and Trans Molopo highways, which effectively linked Botswana to other countries in the region, plans were underway to construct the Mmathethe-Bray-Werda road as an alternative link between South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
“We have funds to build Mmathethe-Bray-Werda highway, and once that road has been built, it will be easier to drive from Kimberly going northwards from Bray and joining the Trans Kalahari if you want to go to the west,” he said.
Mr Molale further noted that the Nata-Maun-Mohembo road was being rehabilitated to offer a shorter route between Mohembo and Katima Mulilo in Namibia. “The trucks that are passing here going to Katima now have to take a straight route through Mohembo, instead of having to go to Windhoek first,” he pointed out.
However, Mr Molale emphasised the need to improve economic activity along the TKC, through mobilization of potential investors to take advantage of the businesses opportunities created. He noted that even though there were few amenities along the corridor, more needed to be done in other areas such as Mabutsane, Charleshill, Gobabis and Zeerust, among others.
He called on mobile phone network operators to work towards improving connectivity for easy and effective communication by the road users.
“I do not understand why there is no mobile network in some parts of the corridor. We have an underground optic fibre and we are already putting above the ground optic fibre so we need you to come to the party,” he said.
He implored people to change their mindset and ensure the road was used responsibly and in a safe way. He regretted that some were taking advantage and using the corridor to engage in drugs and human trafficking.
Mr Molale expressed concern over vandalism of fences and gates along the TKC, which resulted in road accidents caused by roaming animals. He called on farmers to keep their livestock away from the main roads to avoid accidents.
“Let us look at our value systems because these are trans-national roads and there is a lot of tourists that transverse this road, we need to have them keep coming here. We are now becoming international, not just regional, so let us be international in the true sense of the matter,” he noted.
Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS) executive director, Mr Leslie Mpofu said safety, security and compliance were some of the key elements in corridor development that the TKCMC intended to promote.
He noted that work was ongoing towards harmonisation of procedures and operations between member states to ensure easy movement. He said in addition to successfully harmonising the cross-border procedures, they had developed the rules of procedures and standard operational procedures to be presented to the meeting of ministers of member states for approval.
“We have managed to harmonise the procedures that are undertaken at the borders and developed a document that is used by the member states to declare goods at the borders. I am happy to say that this document has helped us to bring down the downtime at the borders from 24 hours to about 30 minutes, which is a great achievement,” he said.
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