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Walvis Bay Corridor Group Chief Executive Officer Mbahupu Tjivikua has called for the abolishment of Visa requirements for travellers between Zambia, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Tjivikua said in a statement in Livingstone that across border movement between the three countries remained a challenge because of tedious visa processing and this negatively heavily impact the morale of those trying to do business as well as the truck drivers.
He said last month, Namibia and Botswana agreed to abolish the use of passports for their citizens crossing between these countries and introduced the use of identity cards and this is best practice that must be emulated on the Walvis Bay Ndola Lubumbashi Development Corridor.
“Cross border movement between our countries remains a challenge because of tedious visa processing. This negatively heavily impact the morale of those trying to do business as well as the truck drivers,” Tjivikua said.
He said there is need to create opportunities for manufacturing, production and value addition in the countries and thereby educate, empower and uplift the standard of women, youth and those in the small and medium enterprises.
“In the same vein, Namibia needs to unlock value of its land near Lubumbashi into a strategic logistics center supported by bonded warehouses and cold storage facilities. I have recently learned of another undeveloped land of Namibia in Sesheke area,” Tjivikua said.
He said this during the Tripartite and Council of Ministers of Transport meeting on Friday of the Walvis Bay Ndola Lubumbashi Development Corridor between the DRC, Namibia and Zambia.
Officiating at the meeting, Transport and Logistics Minister Frank Tayali said in order for the Corridor to serve its purpose, there is need to work on dilapidated road infrastructure which continue to be a huge challenge.
Tayali said there is also need to work on challenge of non-availability of fixed weigh–bridge on the Copperbelt Province causing transporters to overload and end demonstrations, violence against drivers and theft of cargo.
“I wish to retaliate that this annual event of the Council of Ministers meeting will only be truly meaningful if the resolutions that are made every year are fully implemented by the technocrats,” he said.
Contributed by Augustine Sichula
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