Walvis Bay Corridor unlocking opportunities for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is in the process of developing a dry port at the Port of Walvis Bay with the aim of facilitating the easy  importation and exportation of goods especially to and from America and Europe.

According to the Zimbabwean Minister of Industry and Commerce, Prof Welshman Ncube, during an information session in Harare, the project is being spearheaded by the Road Motor Service of Zimbabwe in partnership with Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group.

Ncube said the initiative will seek to further promote the use of the Walvis Bay Corridors.

"The government of Zimbabwe is proposing the establishment of a one stop border post (OSBP) at the Plumtree Border Post between Zimbabwe and Botswana with efforts already under way to engage Botswana on the issue.

"The OSBP concept has proved to be efficient as evidenced by developments at Chirundu OSBP between Zimbabwe and Zambia. With the envisaged increase in cargo passing through the Plumtree Border Post, improvement of the border post is imperative to ensure a congestion free trade route as is currently being experienced along the current trade routes."

Ncube said this during his official address at the information session recently hosted by the Walvis Bay Corridor Group in Harare as part of ongoing efforts to sensitise potential and existing transport stakeholders on the benefits of utilising the Walvis Bay Corridor routes using the Port of Walvis Bay.

The Walvis Bay Corridor Group and Namport also gave presentations to guests, who included business people from both the private and the public sector.

Panduleni Shingenge from the the Namibia Embassy in Zimbabwe reassured the Zimbabwean transport community of the time and cost savings through utilising the TransKalahari and the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor to Zimbabwe through the Port of Walvis Bay, and the commitment to offer assistance in any business related enquiry.

In the meantime, Agnetha Mouton, marketing and communications officer of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group said that significant growth has been experienced on the Walvis Bay Corridors for imports to Zimbabwe during the past 18 months. Consignments being transported through this corridor include frozen chicken, furniture, equipment, vehicles and other consumables.

"The need for landlocked countries to gain access through an alternative trade route to and from sea is imperative, benefiting from access to the Port of Walvis Bay, which offers importers and exporters reduced time and cost savings, high reliability, and cargo security," she said.