Africa-Press – Botswana. The Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) that connects three countries, being Namibia, Botswana and South Africa is considered one of the most significant and economic corridors in Southern Africa.
Ghanzi District Council Chairperson, Mr Thabiso Kebadile made the remarks after the 10km awareness walk recently in preparation for the upcoming 15th Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC) Joint Law Enforcement Operation (JLEO) slated for July 7 to 13 at Ghanzi-Junction 44.
He alluded that the corridor connects economic hubs hence fostering regional integration and development through facilitation of movement of goods and people between countries.
He therefore, called for the recognition of the tripartite collaboration saying it would afford the involved entities to combine their resources, expertise in an effective and efficient manner to achieve the intended goals.
He further, said at local level, they would also facilitate a tripartite collaboration between Charleshill, Ghanzi and Hukuntsi districts to ensure they endorse TKCMC mandate.
Moreover, he implored road users and communities residing along the corridor to ensure its cleanliness by so doing improving safety for road users.
When giving the objectives of the event, Ghanzi Department of Roads and Transport, Manager, Mr Mitchell Mogorosi said the walk was meant to raise awareness about the TKC and the vital role it played in connecting the three countries, through trade, transport and cooperation.
He also said it emphasised on road safety, law enforcement and regulatory compliance along the corridor.
Mr Mogorosi further said it would encourage public participation so that they would understand the TKC mandate for them to fully support the initiative.
He said it would also strengthen collaborations between government, law enforcement agencies, private sector, and communities residing along the corridor.
In her welcome remarks, Kgosi Annah Rankho of Ghanzi underscored the economic benefits facilitated by the aforementioned corridor. She therefore, called for active participation by the public on issues pertaining to TKC for the benefit of promoting the socio-economic status of communities along the corridor.
Kgosi Rankho also called for feasible economic strategies that could be devised to boost the economies of the affected parties.
In his motivational speech, Executive Director for TKC Secretariat, Mr Lesley Mpofu, said TKC served as a vehicle through which economic development would reach diverse communities.
He said it had immense benefits as the revenue collected through the corridor would afford government to create a more conducive economic environment that would create more job opportunities and also improve service delivery on other critical sectors.
He therefore, called for communities along the TKC to promote economic diversification drive by establishing business sectors that would support sustainable growth by generating spur decent jobs and alleviate abject poverty as well.
Meanwhile, Mr Mpofu said the established TKMC-JLEO was mandated to promote checks and balances on issues of security, and compliance through the trade agreements entered upon by the three states.
Mr Mpofu added that the upcoming 15TH TKCMC-JLEO would be graced by 55 operators from Namibia and 90 operators from South Africa.
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