PRISCA MAYUMBELOTRANSPORTATION is, in essence, the movement of goods and people from one location to another via road, rail, water and air. Many countries invest in transport infrastructure, often considered an indicator of a nation’s prosperity, because it enables trade which is essential for development.
Transport has the ability to determine the quality of life but if not properly governed can lead to injury or even death. Transport policy is the political and legal structure and mechanism used for managing and coordinating transport systems, their interrelationships, and the allocation of resources.
Transport policy is critical to achieving economic, social, political and environmental goals; it shapes the activities and enhances the performance of the transport sector. Investment in infrastructure, freight, logistics and public transport is a practical way of contributing to economic growth and achieving robust socio-economic development.
Furthermore, in a global economy where economic opportunities are increasingly related to the mobility of people and freight, including information and technology, transport governance is central to realising a developmental government on a local, regional and international scale.
The goal of transport policy is to facilitate effective decisions concerning the allocation of transport resources, including the management and regulation of existing transportation activities.
In 2018, the Ministry of Works and Transport, with support from GIZ, launched the Namibian Transport policy. The aim is an integrated, sustainable and inclusive transport system, cognisant of the requirements of Namibia’s international and regional network connectivity and the welfare of its citizens. The rationale behind the development of the 2018 transport policy is that it covers major policy issues facing all modes of transport – namely roads, road safety and road transport, sustainable mobility, maritime, aviation, and railway.
Furthermore, it addresses international connectivity in maritime and air transport which is enhanced through implementation of international regulations such as the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and the road and rail sub sectors through implementations of regional agreements such as SADC and Sacu.
• Road fatalities and serious injuries are amongst the serious challenges facing the transport sector, despite efforts by law enforcement agencies and road safety stakeholders; the number of road crashes continue to increase. Passing legislation aimed at addressing coordination and synergy among various role players is vital. One proposal in the policy is a road safety management agency bill that sets out an entire coordinated management system based on the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety and the safe systems approach. Policies aimed at reducing road crashes are justifiable on economic efficiency grounds.
• Maritime transport is amongst the most important modes of transport. It has different applications such as passenger and goods transport, many businesses rely on maritime to conduct trade. The benefits are not only limited to trade; it has a great impact on the overall economy of a country. The maritime sector is of strategic importance with activities connected to it being a matter of interest for the whole international community, the operational environment of the sector is almost wholly global. The Namibian Port Authority (Namport) is a state-owned enterprise that provides port services. Namibia aims to be a regional logistics hub. Therefore, policies aimed at improving its operations are vital in order to achieve this status; and international maritime safety and marine environmental protection standards should be adopted.
• Aviation plays a role in tourism and enables trade over long distances. Governments contribute to their country’s economic well-being when this foster a safe, competitive and sustainable aviation industry. Air transport is one of the most regulated forms of transport. In Namibia, aviation is moving from being a public utility solely owned by the state to an industry with a mixture of competitive elements with different forms of ownership. Economic regulation can prescribe which airline flies which route, at what frequency, price and capacity.
• Rail currently holds 5% of the surface transport freight market share; this is based on TransNamib’s uptake at the port of Walvis Bay’. There is a compelling public interest in the railway industry as citizens contribute with their taxes and workforce to the establishment and maintenance of the rail network. Therefore, public interest underpins the development and improvement of policies in the rail sector. The development of legal, institutional, and political frameworks supports Namibia’s rail’s transport vision of providing seamless, efficient, affordable, customer-friendly and environmentally responsive integrated railway transportation solutions. A rail sector bill provides guidelines for restructuring and managing rail infrastructure.
Transport carries an important social and environmental load which cannot be neglected. Transport and logistics supported by good governance is one of the key drivers in achieving sustained growth and the development of a nation. Transport policies can stimulate growth, facilitate social inclusion and improve sustainability.
