Katima one-stop border post takes shape

Deliberations on establishing a one-stop border post (OSBP) at Katima Mulilo took place this week as authorities confront worsening congestion at the border crossing.On Tuesday, the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) led a delegation of Namibian border agencies to Livingstone, Zambia, for talks aimed at streamlining operations through the proposed OSBP.The joint technical committee meeting served as a precursor to the joint steering committee, which convened the following day.In February, Cabinet approved urgent interventions, including documentary pre-clearance, allowing paperwork to be processed before trucks arrive, in a bid to reduce long queues and turnaround times.These measures, sanctioned during Cabinet’s first decision-making session of the year, include both immediate and long-term strategies to clear the backlog of trucks, many of which remain stranded for days due to bureaucratic delays.Strategic imperativeNamRA’s head of customs and excise, Willbroad Poniso, told delegates in Zambia that the OSBP is no longer a conceptual ambition but a “strategic imperative”.Zambia’s assistant director for domestic trade and commerce, Derrick Sikombe, said the Katima OSBP is more than infrastructure, it’s a catalyst for trade, economic growth and deeper regional integration.He added that operational efficiency will directly impact cross-border mobility, business competitiveness and the livelihoods of border communities.Long, frustrating delays For truck drivers, delays remain a daily burden. Namibian trucker Andrew Angombe (44), speaking to Namibian Sun earlier this year, said the wait at Katima Mulilo can stretch up to a week, forcing drivers to sleep in their trucks.“Some days, we wait three days, sometimes even a week, just to have our paperwork cleared,” he told Namibian Sun. Angombe welcomed government’s move to implement documentary pre-clearance, saying it would drastically cut waiting times.Zambian truck driver Emmanuel Mulenga echoed the frustration, saying he recently spent three days waiting on paperwork. “There is no proper space for trucks. We are parked near a lodge, while others are squeezed near container offices. The lack of facilities makes it even harder,” he said.Internet hurdles Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu acknowledged the persistent congestion, blaming paperwork inefficiencies and poor internet connectivity for delays across immigration, NamRA and clearing agencies.“Sometimes they process documents quickly, but at other times, they are slow due to poor network connectivity,” Sampofu said.Two weeks ago, regional leadership met with MTC and Telecom Namibia to address internet failures disrupting border operations.“This is the main reason for delays and congestion. They assured us they would work on a solution, and we are still waiting for their response,” Sampofu added.He confirmed that Namibia and Zambia are finalising OSBP implementation plans, with a NamRA team set to assess the current infrastructure.nikanor@nmh-hub.com.na

Katima one-stop border post takes shape

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-16

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Katima one-stop border post takes shape

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-16

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