GABORONE – Botswana and Namibia on Thursday signed an agreement to develop a railway line to connect the two southern African countries and ease transportation bottlenecks in the region.
The line will stretch from Botswana’s mining region of Mmamabula, north of Gaborone, to Namibia’s Walvis Bay.
‘Rail is an economic mode of transport, it is much cheaper than roads, very durable, and it takes a lot of heavy loads,’ said George Simataa, Namibia’s permanent secretary for transport.
According to Simataa, the World Bank has committed US$44 000 towards a feasibility study which will start in July, with both countries making a shared contribution of US$82 000 dollars.
The study, to be conducted by a Canadian company, will also determine the cost of the project.
Botswana’s permanent secretary in the ministry of transport, Carter Morupisi, said the line would transport mining products such as coal from Mmamabula coalfields and Morupule coalfields.
It would also be used to transport other products like soda ash and mining machinery, he added.
Botswana is the world’s largest producer of diamonds by value and by volume.
‘It is cheaper importing and exporting through Walvis Bay than it is through the port of Durban in South Africa,’ said Morupisi.
Morupisi highlighted that the line would cut through vast eco-sensitive areas like the Kalahari desert.
‘The line will be traversing wildlife migratory route. The terrain especially in Namibia is also challenging, it is hilly and sloping,’ said Morupisi.
-Nampa-AFP
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