Trans Kalahari railway line critical

Mmegi Editor | Thursday July 14, 2016 10:13

Botswana and Namibia do not only share a borderline stretching thousands of kilometres, they also have the same tribes in each other’s territory being Batswana, BaHerero and Bayeyi amongst others.

Botswana hosted Namibian refugees during the country’s struggle for independence in the late 50s until the 90’s and Geingob was one of the refugees in his teen years in the 60s. Botswana has now sought a piece of land to build a dry port as a convenient and strategic area in Walvis Bay as compared to the hostile treatment she is getting in South Africa.

The dry port can only be fully utilised if it is connected to a railway line from Botswana, the two Heads of State agree.

It is therefore important to fast track the construction of the Trans Kalahari railway line which will not only facilitate the transportation of goods from the dry port into Botswana, but will also make travel easier between the two countries.

It is a fact that thousands of Batswana travel to Namibia every year to spend their leisure time at the coast line for many reasons.

Namibia is a peaceful country with low crime levels and nearer to Botswana as compared to other countries in the region.

A railway line will also make it easier for passenger service trains to open routes between the two countries, something that will benefit other parts of the country such as the Kgalagadi and Gantsi districts that have received less developments since the establishment of this republic.

While a railway line is an expensive undertaking, especially when it runs through thousands of kilometres of desert land, the two countries and the entire SADC region should work hard to ensure that the project materialises.

Geingob admitted that the biggest problem Africa faces is drafting of policies and projects that are never implemented and it is our hope that this one will not be shelved somewhere in the offices of technocrats in the two countries.

We call on the two Heads of State to set timeframes for this noble project and ensure that the two nations are regularly updated on the progress of the project.

Once in place, the railway line will add to the Kazungula and Mohembo bridges’ contribution to intra-SADC trade.

We wish the two countries a peaceful co-existence and prosperous joint venture projects to make the lives of their citizens even better.

Today’s thought

'All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. ' 

– Calvin Coolidge