21 Aug 2024

The Trans Kalahari Corridor Management Committee (TKCMC) has kicked off its 14th Joint Law Enforcement Operation (JLEO), an initiative aimed at reflecting on the commitments made by the leaders of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa when they signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) two decades ago.

The  exercise began on August 18 and will conclude on August 25.

Ms Masego Gertz, Chairperson of the Trans Kalahari Corridor National Committee, expressed the importance of the exercise, stating, “Our meeting serves as a vital reminder of the pledges our leaders made 20 years ago.”

The theme for this year’s operation is “United in Deepening Regional Integration and Growing Economies.”

Highlighting the significance of the event, Ms Gertz encouraged attendees to explore economic opportunities within the corridor.

“Let us continue to unearth economic opportunities on the corridor and transform it into an economic corridor. Let us reignite the spirit of regional integration,” she said.

Ms Gertz said Botswana and Namibia had  introduced the use of national identity cards at the Mamumo border crossing.

She revealed that plans were underway to implement the same at the Tlokweng/Kopfontein border, describing this move as a true testament to regional integration.

Furthermore, she discussed ongoing efforts between Botswana and Namibia to realise the Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) project, emphasising the collaboration and dedication of both countries in advancing regional connectivity and economic growth.

“The same line will link South Africa through the Mmamabula/Lephalale rail project.

And this heavy haul railway is expected to relief Trans-Kalahari Corridor, as well as facilitate trade in Africa and unlock international markets,” she said.

Namibia TKCMC Co-Chair, Mr Cedric Limbo, also said the JLEO was a step in eliminating non-tariff barriers, saying the global economy was still far from the ideal model of a barrier-free market and free from trade barriers.

“Although tariff barriers erected at the borders and within countries have been reduced considerably in the course of successive trade negotiations following the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, there is an increase in the relative importance of non-tariff measures both as an instrument of protection and as a means of regulatory trade,” he said.

Mr Limbo said the non-tariff measures may include politics that restrict or prevent imports, impose variable levies, surcharges or discriminatory taxes on imports, which require pre-import deposits, which subsidise production and exports, or which restricts imports.

“Similarly, non-responsive and unnecessary regulatory processes and procedures and indeed security and safety measures have proven to be aggressive non-tariff barriers to trade especially in developing countries. The above hurdles, barriers and obstacles should never been an issue in the three TKC member states,” he said.

He said besides the fact that they are all part of SACU, SADC and the African Union, they have strong family, cultural, political and historic bonds. Therefore, he said, historic facts should be a consistent reminder that they are serving the same people and effectively rendering the notion of protectionism irrelevant.

Mr Segodi Mogotsi, South Africa’s co-chair of the TKCMC, said: “Trans Kalahari Corridor remains one of our torchbearers in the continent with its success in growth of traffic volumes, infrastructure investment along the corridor in the three member states.”

Mr Mogotsi commended Botswana and Namibia on the conclusion of the agreement and MoU on One Stop Border Post between Mmamuno and Trans Kalahari Border Post.

“This is significant and I know work is heightened through our Border Management Authority to streamline our border environment and ensure seamless movement to improve corridor efficiencies and make TKC, a corridor of choice,” he said. Ends