Trans-Kalahari railway moves closer to reality
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday December 19, 2022 06:00
The project will also create employment and alleviate poverty in both countries.
The Trans-Kalahari railway line will cover 1,500 kilometres from the Mmamabula coalfields in Botswana to Walvis Bay, Namibia.
It will connect to the railway line down to Rasesa, passing through Molepolole, Kang, and Morwamosu to join the Trans-Kalahari corridor through Mamumo Border, Gobabis, and Windhoek to Walvis Bay as the final destination.
The project was conceived in 2010 with the commissioning of the feasibility study and bilateral agreement signed in 2014. The railway line that was touted would unlock Botswana’s economy by transporting coal to Walvis Bay and beyond for export was previously put on hold as it was reported that Botswana and Namibia could not iron out issues.
Initially, the railway line was estimated to cost $9 billion and is expected to create an alternative route for the import and export of commodities allowing Botswana to be a transit hub in the region. When meeting recently the Namibian Minister of Works and Transport John Mutorwa and the Minister of Transport and Public Works from Botswana Eric Molale reaffirmed the commitment of their respective governments to the development of the TKR project.
“The meeting noted that a verification of the Trans-Kalahari Railway line route alignment was undertaken in August. The route will start at Mmamabula to Rasesa, north of Molepolole, towards Phuduhudu following the Trans-Kalahari Highway to Mamumo Border, into Gobabis, through Omitara to Okahandja and Walvis Bay,” read a joint statement from both governments.
Some of the resolutions made during the meeting included capacitation of the TKR-PMO as a matter of urgency, establishment of a technical team for TransNamib, Botswana Railways, and other relevant stakeholders to augment the TKR-PMO to advance the project's activities and the approval of operation budget of the TKR-PMO for the last quarter of the financial year.