31 Aug 2022

The recently established truck stops near Mamuno border gate will go a long way in promoting safety of the Trans Kalahari Corridor.

Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS), Executive Director, Mr Leslie Mpofu said in an interview that the truck stops being Tswana fuel and Kwa Nokeng fuel stations, would afford truck drivers an opportunity to rest and refresh knowing their trucks and cargo were secure.

He said successfully facilitating the establishments of the two truck stops was a step in the right direction in their quest to improve the safety of the corridor.

He said the fuel points with a dedicated place for trucks, were not only important for safety, but they provided employment, with one truck stop having a staff complement of over 22 people.

Mr  Mpofu said those living around or along the corridor would benefit from the corridor, adding that “if it is a settlement it should develop into township”.

He further told BOPA that work was on to come up with a road safety strategy to ensure that TKC was safer, adding that “if a corridor has a lot of accidents, traders and road users will avoid it because they would  know that they will not be safe together with their cargo and trucks if they use the route”.

Meanwhile, he cited SAD 500-customs declaration form as one of their milestones, saying ‘we developed and harmonised it. SACU saw value in the document and it is now a SACU document.’

He said TKCS had also negotiated with Botswana to fence some portions of the  corridor that fall within a wildlife management area, to mitigate road accidents caused by animals.

Mr Mpofu further said they managed to negotiate with concerned countries to refurbish the dilapidated road sections and expanded some road sections.

He said they were also working on a one-stop border post at Mamuno border facility.

He said currently Botswana was developing the Pioneer border to accommodate one-stop border post, adding that all TKS borders currently closed at midnight, but they hoped they would operate 24 hours one day.

Mr Mpofu said the aim of TKCS was to facilitate trade by simplifying cross border transactions and processes, as well as harmonising regulations to make trade seamless.  

He said they also integrated economic plans so that TKC could transform from just being a transport corridor to be a development or economic one.

He said they were looking forward to have their 11^th  joint law enforcement operation slated for November, to be hosted by South Africa, adding that the last one was held in 2019 pre-COVID-19.

Mr Mpofu further said they would hold working group meetings from September 12-16, where they would consider pending issues such as Standard Operation Procedure (SOP), harmonisation of laws, as well as the marketing and communication strategy.

He said they were also doing a documentary with BTV and NBC to market Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat, which would be ready in a month or two. BOPA