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A Namibian delegation which visited Hwange recently implored the Zimbabwe business community to utilise the facility built at the Walvis Bay Corridor which will link Zimbabwe and other countries in the region.
Addressing Hwange’s business community, local authorities and government officials, Director in the Namibian Ministry of Works and Transport, Dr. Cedric Mwanato Limbo in charge of Transportation Policy and Regulation said Walvis Bay will act as a substitute for Hosea Kutako (Windhoek) Airport.
He said it will also accommodate a share of the combined air cargo growth and could house some dedicated freighter aircraft services.
‘’By 2022,the port of Walvis Bay will become the preferred African West coast port and logistics centre for Southern Africa; supported by well-functioning, high quality transport infrastructure and services connected to major local, regional and international markets,’’ he said.
The Port Walvis Bay is Namibia’s largest commercial port and Walvis Bay Corridor Group management has embarked on aggressive marketing in the source and consumer markets in order to drive growth.
Namibian ambassador to Zimbabwe Nicklaas Kandjii said the Walvis Bay port provided an opportunity to link Zimbabwe in “facilitating exports to Europe, West Africa and America”.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland North Province Richard Moyo encouraged the business community in the province to consider the use of Walvis Bay in their businesses.
Matabeleland North province has a place called Kazungula where Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge. The upgrading of infrastructure at Kazungula will facilitate trade between these countries and the link to the Walvis Bay port.
Hwange based Coal Mine managers were thrilled by the introduction of the Walvis Bay Corridor saying it will benefit the mining entities in their transporting departments.
“We are looking forward to be using the Walvis Bay port. The presentation by the Namibian Ministry was an eye opener for the us, we use trucks almost on a daily basis ,the road network is good so as the safety of the Walvis Bay Corridor,” Makomo Resources Operations Manager Victor Mtokonyi said.
The Walvis Bay Corridor links Zimbabwe to Europe, North and South America. Through this route local importers and exporters can save more than 10 days transit time to markets in Europe and the Americas. Indaba
