06 Nov 2016

Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) Secretariat recently conducted a study on implementation of truck stops for safety of the corridor’s users.

TKC executive director Mr Leslie Mpofu said at a media presentation in Walvis Bay, Namibia, last week that the study identified places where truck drivers can have opportunity to rest.

He said the spots will provide safety for cargos and trucks; with opportunity for drivers to rest as well as fuel and refresh.

He noted that such spots would have wellness centres which would provide refilling of drivers’ safety kits and ablutions.

He said they plan to have truck spots along the corridor in Gobabis, Charleshill, Kang, Sekoma, Jwaneng, and Lobatse as well as in Zeerust.

However ,he noted that the stretch from Charleshill to Kang is long and does not comply with the safety measures of the corridor.

He said the secretariat  will look into it and shorten the stretch.

Mr Mpofu  noted that ideally it would be appropriate to have a truck stop at the Ghanzi 44 junction, explaining that the thumb rule is that every 80km should have a truck stop if not at least 100km.

Therefore, he said with a stop at the 44 junction the TKC would have achieved that element of safety for the trucks along the corridor.

On other issues, Mpofu noted that the secretariat thrives for a clean corridor in terms of safety and compliance where people especially business community could have trust in using the road.

He indicated that there have been infrastructure developments in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia; with road rehabilitation in Botswana from Mankgodi through to Jwaneng and in Namibia in places like

Okahandja through to Walvis Bay and that in South Africa the road is being widened from Zeerust to Swatruggens.

Mr Mpofu explained that governments of all countries are responsible for the rehabilitation of the corridor, to ensure safety for its users.

He indicated that TKCS does not do any infrastructure development, but only coordinates.

He added that however all member states of the TKC contribute P1.6million towards the sustenance of the TKC Secretariat.

Despite people’ s believe that the safety of the corridor is threatened by wild animals, Mpofu indicated that it is domestic animals that are a risk to the corridor.

He said they acknowledge that the corridor passes through  animal invested areas.

He  however noted that they have to ensure that wild animals also live in harmony.

Mr Mpofu said Botswana government fenced the corridor in some areas to ensure that domestic animals are kept away; adding that with wild animals there has to be caution so as not to restrict their movements.

Nevertheless, he said education is conveyed to the users of the corridors.

He also said some truck drivers have taken measures and installed techno devices which control movement of drivers to allow them to rest.  

However, he said they cannot stop truck drivers from travelling at night; explaining that stopping night movement poses risks of traffic congestions during the day with many trucks along the road.

He said that alone would be creating opportunistic overtaking by drivers on the road thus causing accidents. ENDS