The Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) is steadily emerging as a model for cross-border integration and trade facilitation in Southern Africa, driven by a coordinated push from Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa to streamline regulations along the key transport route.
This tripartite collaboration was recently reinforced through the 15th Joint Law Enforcement Operation (JLEO), held at Junction 44 near Ghanzi under the themeย โSeamless Borders, Seamless Trade: Securing the Trans Kalahari Corridor for Enhanced Economic Growth.โย The operation brought together senior government officials and enforcement agencies from all three countries to tackle persistent bottlenecks hampering cross-border movement.
Spanning from the Namibian port of Walvis Bay through Botswana to Gauteng, South Africa, the TKC has long been positioned as a strategic trade and logistics corridor for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The renewed momentum builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2003, which laid the foundation for harmonised customs procedures and cross-border cooperation.
Speaking at the JLEO opening, Botswanaโs Minister of Transport and Public Works, Noah Salakae, acknowledged that while political goodwill and trade protocols exist, their practical implementation remains fragmented. He cited duplicative inspections, conflicting regulations, and administrative delays as key impediments to seamless trade.
He urged member states to take inspiration from the European Unionโs Schengen Area, which allows for free movement across 26 countries, arguing that Southern Africa could unlock similar economic benefits through regional interoperability.
โWe believe that striving for similar interoperability in our region would yield significant benefits,โ he said.
A notable stride in this direction is the launch of 24-hour border operations. Botswana and Namibia began round-the-clock services at the Mamuno-Trans Kalahari border in April 2023. Botswana and South Africa are expected to follow suit, with 24-hour operations at their shared borders set to begin on July 25, 2025. Salakae called on all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition, noting that greater efficiency will stimulate trade and regional growth.
Namibiaโs Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, emphasised the importance of developing forward and backward linkages with emerging industries to boost economic spillovers. He called for investment in infrastructure such as warehouses, food storage facilities, and consolidation centres to complement the corridorโs road and planned rail systems.
โThis integrated approach will enhance food production, improve food security, eradicate poverty, and create valuable employment opportunities,โ Nekundi said.
Digital connectivity along the corridor is also improving. Botswanaโs Minister of Communications and Innovation, David Tshere, announced a substantial reduction in mobile roaming charges between Botswana and Namibia after high-level bilateral negotiations. Charges for receiving calls have dropped by up to 97 percent, making cross-border communication significantly more affordable for both citizens and truck drivers. He also revealed that contracts have been awarded to local mobile operators to install new communication towers along the route, targeting dead zones and underserved communities.
Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS) Executive Director, Leslie Mpofu, stressed the transformative potential of trade corridors in regional development. He said corridors help close infrastructure gaps, strengthen value chains, stimulate employment, and boost regional competitiveness.
โJoint Law Enforcement Operations are crucial for removing non-tariff barriers and streamlining cross-border transactions,โ Mpofu added.
The three-day JLEO yielded tangible results. Goods worth over P87 million passed through Junction 44, while fines amounting to P121,000 were collected for road and non-road traffic offences.
