Namibia on Wednesday called for the strengthening of one-stop border posts and the harmonisation of administrative procedures to facilitate the movement of goods across Southern Africa, as the country’s deputy minister of works and transport argued that infrastructure modernisation must be accompanied by improvements in the management and operation of logistics corridors.

Hans Haikali was speaking at the first edition of the Mozambique Transport and Logistics Investment Forum and Exhibition (TRANS-LOG MOZ 2026), held on 4 and 5 November in Maputo.

In his address, Haikali highlighted the link between Mamuno in Botswana and Buitepos in Namibia, where border services operate around the clock. “It is a 24-hour operation,” he said, presenting Namibia’s experience in facilitating cross-border transport.

Haikali also referenced efforts to establish a one-stop border post at the frontier with Zambia. He noted that understandings had been reached between the two countries, but that the process had not yet been concluded.

The one-stop border post model allows for the coordination of entry and exit controls between participating countries, reducing the duplication of formalities and waiting times at border crossings.

Efficiency requires more than infrastructure

For the deputy minister, the construction of roads, railways, and other infrastructure does not in itself guarantee the efficient functioning of corridors. Improvements in security, procedures, and the management systems underpinning the movement of goods are equally necessary.

“We must not only look at infrastructure projects,” he said.

In this context, Haikali highlighted the work of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, a coordination and promotion body for Namibia’s logistics corridors that he said has accumulated more than two decades of experience.

Haikali also advocated for greater cooperation among African countries, arguing that corridors should operate in a complementary fashion and leverage the region’s diverse infrastructure.

“As African countries, we must not compete, but we must complement each other,” he said.

In his view, the harmonisation of procedures and coordination among institutions responsible for logistics corridors are fundamental to facilitating cross-border trade and deepening economic integration across Southern Africa.

The address took place during the high-level ministerial panel “Southern and Central Region Corridors: Limpopo and Beira”, moderated by Ambrósio Adolfo Sitoe of Mozambique’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics.

Alongside Haikali, the panel featured transport ministers from Mozambique, João Jorge Matlombe; Zimbabwe, Felix Mhona; Eswatini, Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe; and Botswana, Keagile Atamelang.

Discussions centred on reducing transit and border crossing times, as well as identifying joint infrastructure projects to be presented to financiers by 2027.

TRANS-LOG MOZ brought together government officials from Southern African countries, investors, financial institutions, and business operators. Over two days, participants discussed infrastructure financing, logistics corridor modernisation, the reduction of transport costs, and regional trade integration.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=559063